Theme Parties

Drinking with friends is always a good time, but the routine inevitably will start to get old (beer pong/kings/up the river/bullshit AGAIN? UGH.) When that day comes, there's no better cure than a THEMED PARTY! Unfortunately, my apartment isn't really the best locale to throw a big shindig (it is, after all, WICKED. TINY.) but once I move to a bigger place these are the types of parties I'd love to throw:

Crossdressing - Girls are boys, boys are girls. Simple enough.

Harry Potter - Go as a wizard, a creature, the golden snitch, or He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named (no avada kedavra allowed, please).

1920s Speakeasy - Everyone's breaking the law at this party, 21 or not. Flappers welcome.

Ugly Sweater - All the bells and whistles of this traditionally Christmas-themed party, save one specific wardrobe requirement. And hopefully, the sweaters literally have bells and whistles on them.

Masquerade - Even though we probably know everyone in attendance, we'll pretend we don't.

ABC (Anything-But-Clothes) Party - This one is pretty self-explanatory. Tape, trash bags, strategically-placed playing cards, anything goes as long as it's not normally wearable. Just make sure your outfit is built to last the night, lest this become a "Flash Your Friends" party.

But-a-cup - Akin to the ABC party, but a lot less scandalous. Bring anything but a cup to drink out of (ala Joanna, who has used a toy dump truck in the past).

Prom Night - Because no one should ever spend good money to only wear a dress once. Also, because you know by now that your prom dress was a hideous and terrible choice.

The Office - Bonus points if whoever dresses up like Michael brings along a papier mache head.

Famous People Who Shouldn't Be Famous - Think Tila Tequila, Paris Hilton, "octomom", John & Kate (+8 optional, because they seem like bad parents), the cast of Jersey Shore, etc.

Fashion Icons - Coco Chanel, Betsy Johnson, Karl Lagerfeld, or Marc Jacobs featuring Spongebob Squarepants tattoo. The choice is yours.

Andy Warhol's Factory - Tin foil walls, silver balloons, bowls full of Skittles "pills." Dibs on dressing up as Edie.

Disney Characters - Just because I want to see who will have the balls to dress up as Mowgli.

Zombies - Your typical fake-blood gorefest. Or just add the word "zombie" to the beginning of any of the other theme names and you've got a WHOLE NEW PAHTY.

Politicians - Yes, I'll probably be Sarah Palin. *defeated sigh*

Filthy Bling/Gangsta - Break out the grillz, the XXXXXXXXL t-shirts, and the 40s for this banga. Music courtesy of Tupac.

Who's in?

Some trends to retire/keep for 2010.

2009 had its fair share of both good and bad fashion, but it's time to start the new year off fresh, no? So here's a list of some things I wish I'd be seeing less of this year (but know I won't because some people stick to fads like glue):

1. Dressing like a lumberjack. Not that I don't love plaid...but it's literally everywhere now, and I think that's reason enough to give it a rest. Nothing's really cool or unique if everyone's wearing it, and unfortunately, people have caught on to plaid.

2. Uggs. But then again I never liked them and have been saying this since some asshole invented them. Just say no.

3. Jeans. I say this loosely, because jeans will never go out of style and everyone owns some. I just wish more women would try something else instead of always sticking with the mundane t-shirt-and-jeans combo everyday. It's just lazy. Try some skirts or dresses! Add accessories! Throw on a scarf or a beret! Whatever, just experiment, damnit!


And a couple of things to keep, for good measure:

1. Ankle boots. They're cute, versatile, and look good on virtually everyone. If you have a pair from '09, don't ditch them, and if you don't, now's the time to invest. For realz.

2. Military-inspired jackets. They look cool, their construction gives the wearer a flattering silhouette, and they didn't take off like the plaid thing did. Keep.

3. Stockings/hosiery. Not so much the boring black leggings of a few seasons ago that cut off at the calf and are a little too 80s. Instead try legwear with cable knits, unique patterns, and vibrant colors.

What will you keep wearing in 2010? What will you retire?

Not so much.

I came across these gems when searching for websites about fashion and style. EPIC fail, Google.

LAWL.

Best quote: "This will set you charmingly apart from those who are poseurs, while attracting real goths!" Come on now.


Jersey Shore Cast Shares Style Secrets

Okay. Perhaps it is beyond my ability to reason, but I simply cannot grasp what exactly it is that these charming young people think they have to contribute to the world of fashion? (...or the world in general, for that matter...) Did none of them ever see that Youtube video? Do they honestly, truly believe that they look good?! Someone put them in a rocketship and blast them to the sun already. Oof. Just had to get that out.

Investment Pieces for the New Year

So in going through my wardrobe I've noticed that I'm lacking a lot of staple garments. Let's face it, there are certain things that every person should own but rarely think about until the need becomes apparent (for example, an appropriate outfit for a funeral). I have a substantial amount of clothes, but the vast majority are all sort of cheap/old/trendy/casual. I would really like to find some business casual clothes that are both appropriate for a future job but also reflective of my personal aesthetic. And I would like to already have the clothes before I start the job because I don't want to start panicking about having nothing to wear on my first day.

According to Tim Gunn's 10 Must-Have Basic Wardrobe Pieces, every woman
should have:

1. Basic black dress - I have multiple. Check.
2. Trench coat - Check.
3. Dress pants - Need!
4. Classic shirt - Need!
5. Jeans - 3 pairs is enough for me. Check.
6. Any-occasion top - Yes? Check.
7. Skirt - Mostly casual. Need classier ones.
8. Day dress - Have quite a few. Check.
9. Jacket - Check.
10. Sweatsuit alternative - AKA comfy dresses. Check.

On to the list of basics I require:
1. A good pair of black shoes. All of the pairs I have now are either painfully high and pointy (not cool) or falling apart (also not cool). To make matters worse, I have no (read: ZERO) pairs of black boots. Considering that the majority of my wardrobe is black or grey, and the majority of my boots are brown or tan, and the majority of the time I prefer to wear boots over regular shoes...this is a big problem. I have been pairing black and brown on an almost daily basis and it kills me a little on the inside because it looks terrible. Hence, new black boots are #1 on the list.

2. Pants/slacks/trousers. I don't own a single pair of dress pants. I do not like those strange wide leg pants with huge rolled cuffs that seem to be the rage with middle-aged/middle-class ladies everywhere. If I ever wore pants like that I would look like one of those clowns on stilts at the circus. Perhaps this is why I've avoided looking for a pair for so long. I will obviously have to tailor because my legs are on the longer side and most pants don't fit me correctly anyway.

3. Skirts, typically A-line and pencil. I like skirts so I won't mind shopping for these. Also, you can get away with a lot more (concerning colors/prints/shapes) when it comes to skirts than when it comes to pants. I would like a few in subdued hues and tasteful patterns (more classic, timeless pieces), with a couple edgier ones thrown in. No minis, obviously.

4. Blouses. Another area where my wardrobe is seriously lacking. Currently my collection of tops is 75% t-shirts/camis, 15% sweaters/cardis, and 10% dressy shirts and blazers. If that weren't already bad enough, most of my "nice" shirts are stained, worn, or fit terribly. I need some nice buttondown shirts that are actually LONG ENOUGH for my torso (seriously, is that really so much to ask for?!) I need some quality tops that are cute and comfortable but also appropriate for a professional atmosphere. Pants and shirts that fit correctly are definitely my biggest challenge.

5. Belts. I need a basic brown, a basic black (maybe buy reversible?), as well as few fun ones to wrap over dresses or cardigans.

6. (Eventually) a nice briefcase/large tote for work.

Anyone have any tips on where I should start looking to find these things?

Resolving in 2010.

2009 was a whirlwind year for me. I felt like I flip flopped from one thing to another all year long. I started out single, now I'm taken. My heart went on a rollercoaster but I came out triumphant. For the first time in my life I lived both in my own apartment by myself, and then with my boyfriend. I was fired from one job, got hired at another. I didn't finish school yet, but I completed an internship. So
many changes occurred, some for the better and some for the worse. Overall though, I learned a lot, experienced even more, and I'm ready to see what the new year has in store.

Since we've reached the end of the year, I've devised a list of some 2010 resolutions and goals, just for good measure:

1. Graduate from college. Come hell or high water (and inevitable debt). I'm 2 mandatory classes and some odd elective credits shy so the prospect of graduation is totally possible and I am determined to make it happen this year.

2. Cut back on the vices. Less drinking/smoking/partying all around. Nights out with friends are always fun, as is the occasional house party, but alas, I'm not in high school anymore. I'm nixing all the weeknight and super-late-night drinking binges in favor of studying and getting a good night's sleep (so I can finally check off #1). Weekends will still be open to hanging with friends/bar hopping/etc. provided I have
fulfilled my scholarly obligations for the week.

3. Either find a new job/second job or pick up more hours...because I'm just as sick of writing about being broke as you are reading about it. This will be tricky while I'm in school but I'll find away to make it work. Better yet, I'd like to find a job I actually enjoy so I won't dread the extra hours. Hopefully something after I get my degree. These are all things I need to start thinking about.

I'm stopping at 3 because New Year's resolutions are so cliche and I think if people want to start making changes they should do it *right now* instead of waiting until the end of the year (but I did it anyway because school starts in January and that will get the ball rolling, yadda yadda excuses excuses. Haha). Also, I think if people make too many then it becomes exponentially harder to actually complete/stick
with them all. Start with the most important things and the little things will fall into place, says I. 'Tis the season to start anew. :)

A girl can dream, right?

Aside from things like world peace, universal veganism, environmentally green everything, etc. etc. (my utopian hippie dreams), sometimes people just desire tangible things. You know...stuff. So without further ado, here it is...my (super unnecessarily materialistic) ultimate Christmas wishlist:

1. I'll start simple. I'd love a Pia Wallen Crux blanket. Simple, aesthetically pleasing, and fun.

2. What girl wouldn't want the perfect pair of Christian Louboutins? If I had to pick my favorite pair as of right now, it'd be the Ni Toi Ni Moi booties. In any color. They are the sex.

3. Chanel. Chanel, Chanel, Chanel. Beautiful, elegant, classic, timeless. Honestly, this legendary fashion house can do no wrong.

4. A shopping spree at IKEA would rock my world. They produce some of the most versatile and amazing home furnishings I have ever seen, and the quality is much better than one would expect at such a reasonable price point. Oh Sweden, you done right.

5. Furnishings for my kitchen provided by KitchenAid. Yup. I want the iconic mixer, I want the coffeemaker, I want the pots & pans, and most importantly, I want it all in RED. ;)

6. While we're at it, I might as well find a dream home for all my new furniture and appliances. I think this New York City penthouse would work.

7. Digs in Paris, London, or Rome would also be nice.

8. A lifetime supply of my favorite drink (you know, to stock the bars in all my houses.) And yes, Joanna, you're invited over for drinks whenever you want. Hell, this is my wishlist. Just move in! :D

9. My dream job. 'Nuff said.

10. Hasn't my Christmas list gotten out of hand? Don't say I didn't warn you. Anyway, the last thing on my ultimate wishlist would be...!!!!!

What's on your no-holds-barred Christmas list?

Merry Christmas!

I picked up my mail yesterday and my bill for the spring semester had come in. Two (2) classes = $2200. Oof. I'll charge it if I have to. I'm not missing another semester because I can't afford it due to a) my grants being dropped because my parents don't live in RI b) my mom being financially unable to help c) by dad being financially able but unwilling to help. Time I step up to the plate. I am a grown woman,
after all. I'm so ready to move on with my life.

Sent out my Christmas cards yesterday. Gifts are almost done. All I have left is to finish the scarf for John's mom and pick up the other half of Joanna's gift, both of which I plan on having done by tomorrow. Oh, and I need to pick up three (3) gifts for different Yankee Swaps. Oof.

John has been so sweet lately. He always knows exactly how to make me smile. It really is the little things that count.

Time for work (I'm sitting in the parking lot). Tonight = laundry, a bit
of cleaning, date night?

Christmastime Ponderings

I would really love to visit the Pawtucket Wintertime Indoor Farmers' Market. It runs out of the Hope Artiste Village every Saturday afternoon (year round) and aside from all the fresh food from local farms, they also have baked goods and entertainment and various other fun to be had. This place is less than five minutes from my house and I
haven't been a single time yet. I've lived here for almost a year now. It really is a crying shame. Someone come with me!

Right now I am getting into the spirit of the season by listening to Christmas music on the radio and drinking soy nog (yes, soy) whilst knitting a scarf for John's sister. I plan on making 90% of the gifts I'm giving this year, partially because it's cheaper and I am broke...but mostly because it makes gift-giving so much more personal. It's more time-consuming but I think it's always worth it; I know I'd rather receive a gift that someone put time and effort into crafting for me, rather than say, a Yankee Candle or some Victoria's Secret body sprays. Not that those things aren't nice but...you know what I mean. But I digress. I really hope that my presents are well-received.

Both sets of parents, howev, will most likely end up with giftcards because they are way cheaper to send than boxes that would probably end up costing more to ship than to fill. I hate hate hate giving giftcards (if there's any gift that says "I am the ultimate careless lazy person", this is it) but I am afraid that it is my last resort. It should not cost an arm and a leg to send packages all over the east coast. So...sorry mom and dad, and dad-in-Florida and Fran.

Back to knitting. Anyone else doing handmade gifts for the holidays?

Trashy TV Makes Me Lose Faith in Humanity.

I woke up today in such a funk. I am still in a pretty ferocious mood. I'm not sure if this happens to anyone else a lot, but occasionally I will have days when I wake up and wonder how I got to this point in my life. I sleep until noon because I have no reason to get up any earlier. I clean my apartment but it's still always such a mess. I feel foreign in my own home. Days like this I get so mad at myself because I feel like I have become lazy and unmotivated. Days like this make me envy the go-getters and the passionate ones that have the gumption to turn their lives around when things get hard.

My friend Joanna is very inspiring. I was reading her blog yesterday and I have never met anyone so adamant about achieving her goals. Mark my words, that girl is going to make a big impact on the world.

I think maybe what I need to do is work out a plan in my head that gives me some clarity for the future. That sentence probably doesn't make any sense to anyone but me. I just think that when you don't have specific goals and instead just generalize what you would like your life to be like, it ends up being a lot less rewarding and you ultimately fall short of your true capabilities.

I need to take a shower and get the hell out of this house for a while. Get in the Christmas spirit or something. I wish it were sunnier out, that would definitely boost my mood.

Internships & the like.

Yes! Good news! I have a usable Sidekick again (bye bye and good riddance to the dreadful pink Razr) and after much debacle I have discovered a way to log into Blogger via Hiptop again! Praise rainbow unicorns! This is a good day.

So in my recent absence I completed an internship with local online fashion editorial giovannistyle.com. In the three months writing for the magazine, I learned a lot, mostly about networking with local businesses in an effort to promote the site. My job was to cover local events, write a gossip column (LAWL), and interview fashionable people in the local scene. I also worked a summer fashion show and helped organize a photo shoot. Overall, I am very proud of the work I
put in and am grateful that I had the chance to gain valuable experience while sharing my writing with such a large audience.

Hopefully I can use what I learned from Giovanni to make improvements to this blog. To be honest, I would have been updating this site more frequently if it weren't for all my Sidekick mishaps and a generally shoddy internet connection. Ah, well....excuses, excuses.

Other than that, my life feels mundane lately. All I do is sleep and work, and I've been sleeping too much and working too few hours. I try to pick up shifts but no one is giving them up because everyone else is equally as broke. I wouldn't mind working a menial job as much if it at least paid the bills, but lately it doesn't. So the equation has resulted in me being both unhappy in my work and stressed about paying
the bills. Something's gotta give. I am ready for so much more.

Maybe I can get a job for a local paper like Providence Monthly or the
Phoenix or Motif? I'm not done with school yet (almost!) and I only
have three months experience under my belt but it couldn't hurt to try,
right?