Breaking Curfew

The Devil Wants Prada

2010-11-01T08:01:00.000-05:00

Sure, there are plenty of simple pleasures in life: milk and cookies, 30 Rock marathons on Netflix, spooning sessions on Sunday mornings. . .

You know what isn't a simple pleasure? Prada's spring/summer 2011 shoes. I'm considering selling my soul for this pair. Any takers? Gently used!

Honey Honey

2010-10-28T08:13:00.001-05:00

You know why I love America? Because you can dress up like a honey bee with your Pomeranian and get rewarded for it. Isn't that why our forefathers fought so hard for our freedom?

Guess who won 'Best Duo' at the Howl-oween Mutt-scarade? Oh yeah, me and Piper! I tried to get Tony to dress up as a bee keeper (that's funny, right?!) but for some reason he refused.

Check out that stinger! Not bad, huh?

Twin Set

2010-10-27T14:10:00.000-05:00

In my former life as a personal shopper, I worked with a yoga instructor who loved two things: her cats and Camper's twins.

Twins is a line of Camper shoes that coordinate, but don't match. They're equal parts clever and adorable.

Queen Mum

2010-10-21T12:39:00.010-05:00

Hey guys, guess what I just bought? My first pair of Vivienne Westwood shoes!

Not too shabs, right? I was debating between the Ultragirl IV flats (that I ended up getting) and the Lady Dragon Heart II heels. Both are pretty awesome and you know I'm loving the cartoon-ness of the heels, but in the end I did the mature thing and forced myself to face the reality that I'm not an adorable Daily Planet intern living in 1950s-era Metropolis. Although if I stumbled upon another Zappos gift certificate in the near future. . .

All the reviews promised they'd be comfortable so, hopefully, they'll be my new go-to flats. They look a lot less plastic-y and shiny in the 'real life' pictures I saw on other blogs.

They're a little more serious than the heart heels- a little more sophisticated and Gothic. If the heel hearts were meant for Barbie, then the Ultragirl flats would be for her creepy stepsister Lydia Deets.

Vivienne Westwood Anglomania + Ultragirl IV flats via Zappos, $78.50 (down from $134)

Better than Okay

2010-10-18T09:54:00.007-05:00

Well, it's official: I'm no longer a newlywed!

Earlier this month, my husband (I never get tired of saying that!) and I celebrated our first anniversary. The first year anniversary is the traditionally the 'paper' year so we stuck to that theme for presents. I got him a book about road trips- one of our favorite things to do together- but his gift blew mine out of the water. He bought a pair of tickets to the OK Go show at the House of Blues last weekend!

OK Go is absolutely my favorite band. I was lucky enough to interview the bass player Tim Nordwind for Gozamos, the online magazine I write and edit for, and was thrilled and humbled talking to him. In the introduction, I wrote about my love for them saying*, "OK Go made me love music in a way that I never had before. Oh No (the band’s second album) was the first CD I bought in over a decade. It spoke to me in a way that felt like falling in love. I am still utterly convinced that the first track off the album, Invincible, was written with me in mind. It remains the unblemished, most perfect song I’ve ever heard. I consider it my theme song and any time I need to feel ten feet tall, I listen to it over and over and over again until I’m ready to take on the world."

It's totally true.

You can imagine how excited I was to see them live and, you guys, the concert was amazing! It was first-trip-to-Disney-World awesome. I was like one of those sugar-high little kids wearing a Cinderella dress who sees Mickey Mouse for the first time. Awestruck.

Some of the highlights included:

1) Several uses of a confetti canon- who doesn't love confetti!?

2) Damien Kulash came down into the audience to sing 'Last Leaf' and- ohmigod!- look how close we were!

3) Invincible. Natch.

4) Awesome light up jackets and laser guitars

5) A rendition of 'What to Do' with hand bells- that's what love sounds like.

I know it's kind of hard to hear them in the video since the girls who are filming it are singing along but- come on- can you blame them?

*I know it's totally weird that I'm quoting myself. How meta of me, right?

Hey Baby, Take a Walk on the Wild Side

2010-10-07T08:00:00.000-05:00

Honestly, some of the best nights I've had in Chicago were the Thursday nights at the Blue Bayou when Vaudezilla took over. I'm still bummed out that the show is no more (but the troupe lives on!) but at least Callie Lipkin captured the glitter before it was all over. . .

Walk on the Wild Side from Callie Lipkin on Vimeo.

Miss Congeniality

2010-10-05T13:35:00.011-05:00

I want to live in Kate Spade's world!

A world where everyone wears sparkling cocktail dresses to decorate the house, take out is served on gorgeous china, and brightly colored tights are standard issue.

Weekend Homework

2010-10-01T07:56:00.002-05:00

Catch up on some light reading. . .

Picture from This isn't Happiness

You Zig, I'll Zag

2010-09-29T10:50:00.004-05:00

I saw this gorgeous picture from Canadian House and Home via Shelterrific and fell in love with the dark wood furniture and red-and-white, Tim-Burton-esque zigzag bedding. So pretty, right? All it needs is a huge mug of hot apple cider, a stack of Nippon Vogues, a cuddly Pomeranian, and I'll be there all Sunday long.

Come to think of it, zigzags are widely underrepresented as a pattern (put your hand down, Missoni, I'm excluding you from this example). Everyone goes nuts for plaid, polka-dots, and stripes but no one really gives zigzags their due. My closet has enough rugby stripes to choke an elephant but nary a zig, nor a zag to be seen.

Anyway, I was inspired enough to make a kicky little Polyvore featuring some zigzag pieces- enjoy!

You Zig, I'll Zag by breakingcurfew featuring chandelier jewelry

Weekend Homework

2010-09-24T07:53:00.000-05:00

Dress up like a New York Club Kid. . .

Picture from Up All Night, Got Demons to Fight

Walk Walk Fashion Baby

2010-09-23T08:08:00.003-05:00

Did I ever tell you guys about the time that they slapped some black lipstick on me and called me a model?

I got a chance to wear some of Susan Elizabeth's amazing jewelry (seriously, check out the Twiggy necklace!) and got to practice all my model faces. It was a really, really fun day. I got to take some pretty pictures with my girl Laura and my new girl Lynne.

Check it out, guys! I totally found my light!

You can see the story and the rest of the pictures on Gozamos here.

Ink Dreams and Ice Cream

2010-09-22T13:57:00.008-05:00

Don't you wish these pictures came with memoirs?

Dirty girl!

Love her.

Weekend Homework

2010-09-17T07:49:00.003-05:00

Drink too much caffeine and stay up passed your bedtime. . .

Picture from Up All Night, Got Demons to Fight

These Boots were Made for Walking

2010-09-14T12:30:00.004-05:00

Dear Mod Cloth,

You are killing me with the boots this year! They are so awesome that I'm tempted to take up a life of crime. If any banks are robbed within the next few days in the Wrigleyville area, be very suspicious.

Love, Katie

Blue Button Beauty, $175

Unde-feet-ed Boot, $159

With a wool mini skirt and a fabulous pair of over-the-knee socks, amirite?
Harney Peak Boot, $186

Weekend Homework

2010-09-10T08:43:00.004-05:00

Jump on some beds. . .

Picture from Daisy Chains

Hip Hop Hooray

2010-09-06T07:44:00.000-05:00

My daily readers* will notice that I've been a bit sporadic with posting lately. I have a good excuse though, I've taken on a new freelance client: Gozamos. Its an online magazine that strives to be the definitive guide for the young, urban, culturally savvy Latino. I've been editing the Lifestyle section and, just this past week, taken on the Managing Editor role.

One of the most fun things I've done with the Lifestyle Editor role is work with Roberto Del Rio, the staff fashion writer. A few weekends back, we did a full day of marathon photo shoots and I wanted to share with you guys the first of them that ran.

The concept was '90s Hip Hop and everything was Roberto's idea. From the bright pink lipstick to the crazy neon shorts (those were vintage Oscar de la Renta, you guys!) to the side braid, everything was his idea. Admittedly, I was very scared as he explained all the separate elements to me but it really came together!** The models were a blast and the pictures are so fun! Very cover-of-'Seventeen'-circa-1994, right?

Here's the link to the story with more pictures- enjoy!

*also know as "my husband"- hi, baby!
**Try saying "neon printed high-waisted culottes" without cringing- I dare you.

Long Weekend Homework

2010-09-04T05:38:00.002-05:00

Stay up all night and watch the sunrise. . .

Can we Talk about How Awesome the 'Mambo' Scene Is?

2010-09-03T07:33:00.001-05:00

Before there was 'Step it Up 3D', there was a little dance movie called 'West Side Story'. . .

Get it, Chita! I love that leggy broad.

Flats! Flats! Flats!

2010-08-30T10:56:00.007-05:00

Every new shopping season (F/W and S/S), I clean out my closet and then write a list of all the things that I'll need to fill in the holes of my wardrobe. Everyone always needs a few new pairs of undies and white shirts, but I also like to grab some new trend pieces, tights, and some jewelry to make all my old stuff look new again.

One F/W season, my then-boyfriend/now-husband found my list. He still teases me about it to this day.

Yes, I probably deserved it. One of my list items was 'a long cardigan perfect for layering'. The one he really got a kick out of was, 'Flats! Flats! Flats!'. Sigh. In fairness to me, I never planned on anyone else reading my lame shopping list.

Sadly, my 'Flats! Flats! Flats!' budget was more Target than J Crew, but if I did have an endless bank account to spend on cute, comfy shoes, I would have bought Miu Miu's sequined flats.

The peep-toe platform version and stiletto pump are gorgeous and my inner drag queen wants them hard, but the practical princess inside me is vying for the flats.

Firestarter

2010-08-13T12:48:00.004-05:00

Drew Barrymore, you kick ass creature!

You have designers and stylists with million dollar outfits falling all over themselves to dress you and show up at a red carpet event wearing a $25 dress you found at a vintage store in Austin.

Awesome.

Admit it: you totally want to be friends with her (if only to borrow that dress). The line forms behind me, guys.

More pictures here at Project Rungay.

Polishing Up: Blue Me Away

2010-08-10T12:54:00.003-05:00

I just changed my nail polish from green to this Sally Hansen 'Blue Me Away!', pictured here. This isn't my picture or my nails, obvi. They are too perfectly painted and I have to keep my nails short for Kung-Fu now. Boo. I suppose that if I have to trade long, gorgeous nails for being a bad ass Beatrix Kiddo wannabe, I'll take it. The picture came from Spunkster's fabulous iPolish blog.

First off, you have to love a nail polish named that includes an exclamation point. Of course it's a bad pun, but it's elevated to smirk-worthy with the addition of an exclamation point. Plus, the name reminds me of Tobias Funke's brief foray into the Blue Man Group. Amirite, AD fans?

Okay, on to the review of the polish: it's fabulous. It's Sally Hansen's X-treme Wear line. What it lacks in name, it makes up for in performance. It's super opaque and I only had to use one coat to cover up completely! I'll have to play the waiting game to see if it holds up to my constant keyboard tapping and texting, but so far no chips. Also: it's cheap! The color is just as rich as my fancy pants OPI colors but retails between $1.99 and $2.99.

Two freshly painted thumbs up!

eBay Hunting: Plaid Cape

2010-08-06T17:44:00.006-05:00

Let's face it: 'Confessions of a Shopaholic' was a terrible movie.

Not that the book was Hemmingway or anything, but it was a fun, popcorn book. I read all the Rebecca Bloomwood books and was really looking forward to the movie. It's really too bad that is sucked so hard.

There was one awesome thing about the movie: Rebecca Bloomwood's plaid cape from her interview scene. It was adorable! I've been looking for a cool, vintage cape for awhile and finally found one on eBay. Note: please ignore the scary mannequin and fake neon geraniums.

Not bad, right? I love the plaid! I know it might reference and too bright or too '80s for some people, but (reality TV nerd alert!) it reminds me of the plaid that Seth Aaron used in his finale show for Project Runway. Besides, I already have enough black coats, amirite?

Now I just need to find an awesome pair of red leather gloves to rock it with. . .

Second Base

2010-08-05T10:22:00.003-05:00

You guys, this is a wedding dress!

I want to be best friends with the bride who's bold enough to wear this frock on her big day.

Chalayan dress via I'm Revolting

You Should be Dancing

2010-07-30T08:43:00.001-05:00

You guys, it's almost August! That means that there's only 5 more full months in 2010. You know what that means? Only 5 more months of possible dance parties!

Let's step up our Soul Train game this weekend, shall we?

Here's your assignment: leave (at least) one song that will get the party started and one dance move you plan on owning the dance floor with in the comments. I'll go first. . .

Credits:
Strawberry Crispy
Birdcage Norwich
Maria Rita
Let's Watch This City Burn
Sabino

Want it Now: Ankle Spats

2010-07-29T10:17:00.007-05:00

Yesterday I was walking (and sweating) when a beautiful girl rode by me on a bicycle. She was such a vision that she made me stop in my tracks: bronze skin glowing, vintage bike chrome gleaming in the sunlight, cool gold-rimmed aviators, dark hair and white dress flowing out behind her.

Why don't I ever look like that on a bike?

Lemme break it down for you:

First off, I'm jaw-clenchingly terrified of riding in the city. Those Williamsburg kids on my FB friends list who ride in Manhattan with no breaks- I don't get you guys. Why not just set your bike on fire while you're at it? I can't even ride down Southport without gripping the handle bars until my hands hurt.

Secondly, I wear a helmet. You never see the girls on The Sartorialist wearing helmets with their hair all matted down with sweat underneath. Helmets, although TOTALLY NECESSARY, are not cute.

Thirdly, I don't have any ankle spats.

Ankle spats are something that I never ever thought I'd want (along with velvet skinny pants and bleach-splattered jeans) but, there I go again, longing for something totally bizarre and hard to pull off. However, unlike other fashion crushes, these ankle spats do have a purpose. In fact, they have two: they'll keep your feet dry during rain-soaked rides and are made up of reflective material so you'll be easier to see at dusk rides. They're also super cute.

Made by Portland based design Karta Healy, TWOnFRO's ankle spats can be found (along with other adorable vintage treats) at The Bicycle Muse.

A Dish Best Served Cold

2010-07-23T08:19:00.000-05:00

Mad World

2010-07-22T08:13:00.000-05:00

I don't want to alarm you guys, but there's only three more days until Season 4 of 'Mad Men' begins! Are you freaking out!? Do you have your Betty Draper outfit and martini bar ready for your premiere party? While we wait, let's check in on everyone's favorite feisty secretary Joan Holloway for some serious pretty. . .

T-Lo at Project Rungay mentioned this, but it's a point worth reiterating: it's nice to see an editorial that focuses on something other than her five alarm fire body. That face is Helen-of-Troy amazing.

Christina Hendricks for LA Times Magazine
Photographed by Joshua Jordan
Styled by Hayley Atkin

Btw, Christina, You had me at Saffron/Yolanda/Bridget. . .

Woodland Princess

2010-07-21T07:11:00.001-05:00

Yes this crown is completely frivolous and all sorts of impractical but so is wearing a tiara as headgear in the first place. I mean, let's face it: if you're going to wear a tiara, go big or go home. Give the people on the El something to talk about instead of getting mistaken for a one-woman bachelorette party.

The gorgeous Iron Butterfly Crown is a work of art. In my imagination, it was created by a bunch of friendly woodland creatures donating their feathers and smelting skills* to create a one-of-a-kind crown ready for a milk-skinned, fairy tale princess.

If Lady Gaga ever goes all Earth mother-y on us, I'll bet my Pop Rocks that she dons something similar to this.

Iron Butterfly Crown by Little Doe

*Hedgehogs have those, right?

Is this like a Noxema Commercial or What?

2010-07-20T08:39:00.000-05:00

Fifteen years ago yesterday, one of the greatest movies of the '90s came out: 'Clueless'. I was twelve years old at the time and remember seeing it at a drive-in (I also remember slamming my finger in the car door that night so my evening went from awesome to not-so-awesome pretty fast). I was too young to get the gay jokes and, unfortunately, to rock the looks that Cher and Dionne pulled off so effortlessly.

If you haven't seen 'Clueless' yet, crawl out from whatever rock you've been under, crank up the A/C, grab some junk food, and prepare for your mind to be blown. Not only is the fashion so '90s it hurts, but it takes you back to a simpler time- a time pre-Twitter when people had beepers and said "As if!" non-ironically (can we please start doing that again?!).

Also: was there ever an insult more cutting than, "You're a virgin who can't drive."? Burn!

I love the girls' gym clothes. Look at that line-up! That is pure Spice Girls ('Say you'll be There', anybody?)! Also- Amber: the world's first frenemy? Discuss.

I love this shot of Cher, rocking a beret and a mini backpack just out of shot, and Dionne who is wearing a rave hat! Remember when that was cool!? Rave hats were the aviators and skinny jeans of the '90s. I'm also dying over the cropped angora sweater that was trendy for five minutes between Dionne and Liv Tyler in 'Empire Records'.

Ah yes, the plaid skirt suits. I wanted one of these suits so badly when I was a tween. You know how some girls want ponies? I wanted a sharply tailored three-piece glen plaid suit that, I imagined, I would wear until I died. The closest I ever got to it was am ugly stretched out pleated, blue plaid skirt from Express that I dug out of the Salvation Army. Are you totally sad for me?

I was always way too shy to wear the knee highs. I wish I had a time machine so I could go back in time and give myself a pep talk about wearing them. And talk myself out of those unfortunate bangs.

"Nice stems." In the '90s, our only options were Mary Janes or Doc Martens, amirite?

Probably the most famous dress in the movie: the Alia. As cool as it was, let's not forget how awesome the ostrich feather peplum jacket makes it! If forced to choose, I'd pick the jacket over the dress for sure.

Literary Pilgramage: The Hull House

2010-07-19T11:32:00.000-05:00

I've been meaning to post about this for awhile.

I went on the Chicago Ghost Tour when my parents were in town and we all had a blast. It was all sorts of fun and slightly unsettling (Attention Lakeview residents: do you know that most of where you live is on top of old graveyards?! They didn't move the bodies before they started building all the new apartments so good luck with all those Poltergeist-style curses). The finale of the tour and the stop that I was most looking forward to was the Hull House.

Said to be one of the most haunted places in Chicago, the Hull House was founded by Jane Addams in 1889 as a sanctuary helping immigrants, unwed mothers, and victims of domestic abuse. The most famous legend that's attributed to the Hull House happened in 1913. According to ancient urban gossip, a young Catholic women was constantly tormented by her husband- a devout atheist. While she was pregnant, he mocked her religion, cursed God, and tore up a picture of the Virgin Mary. Alas, the young women was cursed for her husband's sacrilege and she birthed a hideous, scaled beast with pointed ears, horns, and a tail: The Devil Baby. The young mother supposedly gave her baby to the Hull House where Jane Addams and her volunteers looked after it. It terrified the nurses so much that one of them smothered it with a pillow while it slept.

Good story, huh?

Ira Levin thought so! He read an article about the Hull House and it's most legendary resident. The story was the partial inspiration for one of my favorite books: Rosemary's Baby.

Pretty spooky, huh?

That's Why the Lady is a Tramp

2010-07-02T05:15:00.002-05:00

My best friend Emma Watson just co-starred in her boyfriend George Craig's band One Night Only's new music video. The video for "Say You Don't Want It" has been circulating more than naked pictures of RPattz on a Twihard forum so you've probably already seen it but I can't resist putting it up.

Seriously adorable. Did you see the twist coming?

Things I Can't Afford: The Anthropologie Edition (Again)

2010-07-01T05:33:00.005-05:00

Sad times, guys.

I can't even afford the night gowns at Anthropologie! Ahhhh, so pathetic.

If I did have an extra 80 bucks laying around, I would invest in this Guava Flower Chemise and wear it as a dress. How cute would this be with kicky little brown cowboy boots?

If I did actually wear it as a night gown (but, let's face it, it's way too pretty to get crumpled up under the covers or sweated on when the air conditioning clicks off), I'd lie in bed and listen to obscure indie rock while pretending I was in a Wes Anderson movie. In the next scene, I'd throw a vintage brocade coat over it and go outside to smoke cigarettes where I'd have an emotional confrontation with an ex-boyfriend, amirite?

Guava Flower Chemise from Anthropologie, $78

Superhero Girl

2010-06-30T16:16:00.008-05:00

The interwebz today are abuzz with Wonder Woman's new makeover. Wonder Woman, my idol in between Lady Gaga and Beatrix Kiddo, has made it to 600 issues and to celebrate she went shopping! Let's take a look at the 'Before', shall we?

On the right is the original Amazon princess in 1941. On the left is more recent costume: bigger- ahem- breast plate, shorter star-spangled shorts, but the super shiny, perfume ad hair and kick ass boots remain.

And now the 'After':

Awesome.

Holy waxer, Batman, she's wearing pants! No longer will Wonder Woman have to get a Brazilian every time she goes out for a night of crime fighting. I'm also loving the Joan Jett hair and the choker (guys, can we hurry up and bring back chokers? They are beyond due).

Another upside to the new outfit is that, come Halloween, girls can dress up like a superhero without the risk of indecent exposure. What a novel idea!

Bonus: Melee shot!

Get it grrl!

Escape Time: W Hotel Fort Lauderdale

2010-06-25T10:48:00.008-05:00

It's Friday and I think we've all been working way too hard. Time for a well-earned vacation, right?

First things first: let's pick out some luggage. How about J. Crew's sour lemon Globetrotter suitcase? It'll totally match my gladiola silk top!

Or maybe something from Steamline?

What's that? These are way too bulky and how could you ever get them into the overheard compartment and/or how are you ever going to pay for the checked baggage fees? Let's face it, you guys, if you can afford to buy this luggage you can afford the fees and/or to rent a traveling champion with a six pack and rugged stubble to lift your bags for you.

Now for the place. I feel like showing off my new bikini. The W Hotel in Fort Lauderdale could be the perfect place!

Ahh, let's check into our suites and give the hotel bed a good jump.

Time to show off that bikini. Let's go make all the other girls jeals. . .

Ready for a nap? All that looking hot is exhausting!

Want meet at the fire pit post-dinner to gossip?

Let's grab a drink at the hotel bar!

Oops! Accidentally stayed up all night! This calls for a nice long bath on the terrace watching the sunrise.

Want it Now: Bleached Splattered Jeans

2010-06-24T10:25:00.006-05:00

Every once in awhile, I get a wardrobe craving that is so hard to wear that I might as well be coveting wool underwear.

I just saw this picture on Rugby's style blog and I'm smitten with those bleach splattered jeans. Doesn't this chick look adorable?! So cozy and sexy with her men's gold watch and pastel nails- this is exactly what I want to look like on Sunday afternoons (which is, let's be honest, much much farther than reality).

It seems like most fans of bleached jeans are razor thin, perfect-skinned celebrities. Does that deter me? Hell, no!

Ashley Tisdale representing for brunettes- apreesh.

Hey Nicole and Gwen, you know how you guys are respectable moms now? You totally don't need those super fly skinny jeans. The PTA is just gonna give you stink eyes. Just hand 'em over to me and I'll rock 'em while you check out the twin sets at Ann Taylor, ok? I promise I'll give them back (I'm totally lying).

eBay Victory: Betty Draper Drag

2010-06-23T09:12:00.007-05:00

I'm having a bit of a shoe renaissance as of late. I won a DSW gift certificate and had a little spree (pictures to come later) but I also nabbed these fantastic Coach polka-dot heels from eBay for $15!

Aren't they adorable? They're silk polka dot and look like they're straight out of WASP princess Betty Draper's closet.

Remember the polka-dot dress she wore all night and all day while throwing a tantrum about Don stepping out on her? Oh Betty, you fabulous brat!

Take a Bow

2010-06-18T07:18:00.000-05:00

"I used to think the secret to a happy ending was to bring down the curtain at the exact right time." -Chuck Palahniuk, from Haunted

Photo from the United States premiere of Puccini's La Rondine at the Metropolitan Opera House March 10, 1928

Tiny Dancer

2010-06-17T07:28:00.000-05:00

Perusing Facebook threads usually results in uncovering drama or neurotic, ego-driven ramblings so I mostly confine my creeping to Twitter streams. However, I did discover a rare gem the other day: the "I Randomly Start Doing Ballet in Public Places" group. Silly title? Yup. Fun pictures? Yup.

These girls are so adorable and fun that it makes me want to write a series of young adult books following their adventures at some prestigious fictional ballet academy. Field trips! Homecoming! Rival dancers! Can you see it now?

How cute are these two with their matching Coach purses? So adorable! I bet they have matching BFF necklaces.

Old News

2010-06-16T10:03:00.014-05:00

The sky is blue, Saturday comes after Friday, and Diane von Furstenberg came out with another gorgeous collection. Please to enjoy some of my favorites from Resort 2011.

I sort of love that it isn't the typical super floral, pink and orange, honeymoon wear that the word "resort" conjures up. The black and white stripes are so sleek and modern and those yellow shoes are killing me!

This Shark, Swallow You Whole.

2010-06-14T07:54:00.000-05:00

My love of tote bags knows no bounds.

I'm always on the hunt for a new, sturdy, cool tote bag and I'm ready to devour this Jack Spade one! It doesn't hurt that 'Jaws' is one of my all-time favorite movies. Besides the obvious appeal of a killer suspense/monster movie, it encapsulates the experience of a New England summer in an incredibly accurate, detailed way. It's a snapshot of a Yankee, yuppie summer. Since they cast a lot of locals for the movies, a lot of Bay State residents have friends of friends who, every once in awhile, receive royalty checks for $.17.

Also, for those of you who haven't sat around a Cape Cod beach next to a bonfire, the movie isn't entirely fictional. Every once in awhile, one of those great, white suckers does swim up the coast and a little too close to the shoreline. . .Da duh. . . Da duh. . . Da duh. .Da duh. Da duh. Dan duh. Da duh! Da duh! Da duh!

Jaws Coal Bag from Jack Spade, $195 (any chance this will go on sale for about $150 less?)

It's a Disaster

2010-06-11T05:23:00.000-05:00

"If you worry about disaster all the time, that's what you're going to get."

-Chuck Palahniuk from Survivor

Photo by Quack the Wooley Duck

etsy Find: Hell Bent for Leather

2010-06-10T08:23:00.001-05:00

Lace is (sometimes) too sweet, don't you think?

When dressing for an alter ego (something that I do more often than not), wouldn't you rather be the tough chick that makes other girls clutch their purses (and boyfriends) a little more tightly when you're around rather than the wide-eyed, innocent damsel in distress? Frilly, cream puff dresses and lace-edged gloves telegraph a daintiness and fragility that (let's face it) stops being cute at about 23 anyway.

This black leather cuff from LoveAtFirstBlush's etsy store has a marshmallow-sweet bird in flight pattern cut into it but the dainty filigree pattern is toughened up by the bad ass leather material.

I'll take two please!

Bird in Flight Black Leather Cuff by LoveAtFirstBlush, $75

As Seen Outside the Holiday Club. . .

2010-06-09T20:42:00.004-05:00

This is exactly why I love the Holiday Club!

Dead Man's Party

2010-06-09T08:51:00.000-05:00

I've always been drawn to creepy things. My favorite holiday is Halloween and, when I was little, I used to make my Barbies have elaborate seances only to be gruesomely possessed by demons instead of shoe shopping and going to prom. I have a feeling Melanie Pullen and I would be very good friends.

Photographer Melanie Pullen is most famous for her High Fashion Crime Series. She created highly stylized fashion editorials with the dark twist of her models becoming victims. Based on real life crime photos from the 1919 to 1920 LAPD and NYPD archives, each image takes up to a month to create and the entire series used $13 million in haute couture clothes and accessories. The results are macabre, grusome and can't-look-away gorgeous.

Bookmark Worthy

2010-06-08T09:40:00.004-05:00

Printers Row Lit Fest, the largest literary event in the Mid West, is this weekend and I can't wait! There will be hundreds of authors, dozens of events, and enough books to keep Chicago reading until The Rapture.

If authors are your rock stars (as they should be), then consider attending wearing one of Out of Print's tees. The t-shirts are printed with book covers and the line reads like a fantastic summer reading list.

Can I put in a request for some Ira Levin titles?

Bite Me

2010-06-07T11:08:00.006-05:00

This is the post where I lose about a million cool kid points*.

I have a guilty pleasure that is almost as embarrassing as the amount of Fox Mulder fan fiction I wrote in middle school (spoiler alert: it was a lot). I've found myself reading a lot vampire novels lately. And loving it. I'm not just talking about the hipper True Blood/Sookie Stackhouse novels (though I read those too) or the pop culture juggernaut Twilight series (ditto) but a friend got me hooked on Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy series. That's right: I'm obsessed with a tween vampire series.

There! I confessed it! Can we all take a deep breath and do a group hug now?

I know the vampire craze is almost as played out as the zombie craze but guess what guys? I don't care. I love vampires, zombies, and Lady Gaga and I don't care how over exposed they get. In fact, I'm seriously considering buying this choker to publicly declare my Fang Banger intentions. Made by etsy seller meekssandygirl, the choker is almost romantic thanks to the soft cashmere and cotton yarn it's crocheted from. I know it's fake vampire bites but there's something- dare I say?- almost elegant about it.

Vampire Bite choker from meekssandygirl, $17

*Actually, I think I lost about a hundred just for calling them "cool kid points".

Too Long

2010-06-04T08:38:00.000-05:00

"To some of us, the nights are too long. To some, the days."

-Chuck Palanhniuk from Haunted

Where's a Flux Capacitor When You Need It?

2010-06-03T09:37:00.005-05:00

This dress.

Wow. Is it possible to have a crush on a dress?

You know how all those time travel movies have one character succumbing to a romantic subplot? The modern character falls for the doe-eyed innocent damsel in distress or the rough-around-the-edges adorable, dimpled knight? I would totally pass over a hundred knights, cowboys, and gladiators to get a crack at this ball gown.

Spotted on Tina's eye candy-friendly blog Thought Patterns.

As Seen at Daley Plaza

2010-06-02T15:57:00.004-05:00

I'm all for cheering the Blackhawks onward in the play-offs but are the colored fountains around town giving anyone else a Jack-Torrence's-elevator-of-blood-hallucination vibe?

Come play with us, Patrick Kane. Come play with us forever and ever and ever. . .

Telling Stories

2010-05-28T08:30:00.000-05:00

"Everything is funnier in retrospect, funnier and prettier and cooler. You can laugh at anything from far enough away."
-Chuck Palahniuk from Stranger than Fiction

Photo: Prelude to a Water Balloon Fight by dmdzine

Mod Squad 2: Foot Patrol

2010-05-24T07:55:00.000-05:00

Last week, I fell head over heels for Mod Cloth's pretty frocks. Turns out they have a fantastic shoe selection as well! Time for some fantasy shoe shopping, kittens:

Perfection! If I didn't live in sneakers (hot pink ones) and flats (ones that look like mice), I'd make these my wear-with-everything standards.
Brown Butter Heels, $68

Definitely not for wall flowers! These are crazy beautiful and the closest I'd ever get to dressing like Lady Gaga (Our Lady of Holy Sequins and Latex) in real life.
Unicorn Princess Heels, $120

Imagine how fantastic these will look with black tights in the fall?!
Violet Tendencies Heels, $155

If Pam Grier were a scenester, she'd live in these boots. Kick. Ass.
Truth or Consequences Boot, $235

Pick of the Glitter

2010-05-21T08:22:00.000-05:00

"The trick to forgetting the big picture is to look at everything close-up."
-Chuck Palahniuk, from Lullaby

Photo: Bunny Love in "Pick of the Glitter" by the incredibly talented Linus Gelber

Gimme Gimme Kimi

2010-05-20T08:32:00.005-05:00

You guys, I haven't done a shoes post is forever (re: last Monday)!

Oh Kimi* heels, I've got it bad for you. They're so awesomely Great Gatsby, no?

I'm a sucker for shoes that telegraph a lifestyle (I know, that's how they get you!) and super preppy, privileged, I-hang-out-with-the-Kennedy-grandkids is damn near impossible to resist. If they were mine, I'd wear them with a floaty white cotton dress that looked great with my tan and have a sweet tea-heavy lunch on a patio in Hyannis.

Kimi Heels from Coach, $198

*Anyone else instantly reference Kimmie Gibbler when they hear that name?

Mod Squad

2010-05-20T08:30:00.008-05:00

I'm constantly on the look out for two things: new books about the zombie apocalypse and new places to shop online. I haven't found anything as of late to top 'World War Z' but I did (finally) browse through Mod Cloth.

I know Mod Cloth is nothing new. Their advertisements show up on just about every site that I regularly go to but I had never taken the time to page through their site. I finely cracked today and- you guys!- it's so good! The clothes are stylish, adorable, and remind me of Anthropologie (except everything is cheaper than Anthro's torturous sale room). Mod Cloth was founded by 17 year old high school sweethearts Eric and Susan (aww!) and they still run the company with their pug Winston (AWW!)

I can't attest to the quality since I have yet to order anything from them but that hasn't stopped me from creating a huge wish list. . .

All sorts of Mia-Farrow-in-'Rosemary's Baby' sweet.
Vanilla Bean Dream Dress, $55

This looks like it came straight from Anthropologie, doesn't it?
Myrna Urbina Top, $45

A friend of mine I used to work with in my former life as a personal shopped hated when people described clothes as if they were describing food (i.e. scrumptious! tasty! yummy!). I'm sorry, I can't help it Katie: this dress looks delicious!

Because We Can Can Dress, $108

This is probably my favorite piece on the site! Throw it on with a cute pencil skirt and tank for a first date or a blousey tunic and sequined leggings for front row at a fashion show. Although after reading the name, I can't get that song out of my head. . .
The Vest Around, $55

I'm not sure what kind of crazy bra you'd have to wear with this frock, but it would be totally worth it when you pulled it off.

Grand Birthday Dress, $108

Pomeraniac

2010-05-19T09:25:00.010-05:00

I know, I know: I've been a bad blogger as of late. I've been sporadic with posts and bad with commenting on all of you guys' blogs but I have a good excuse! Observe:

That's right, I got a puppy! Meet Piper, my birthday present from my hubby. Of course we adopted Piper. F. I. D. O. Rescue took little Piper from a hoarder and she (along with some friends) were placed in a foster homes. She's been in a cage most of her 3 years so she doesn't understand toys and doesn't know how to play (we're working on it!). On the other hand, she's a very healthy girl and is a perfect weight of about 7 pounds. She's also the cutest thing ever.

So there you have it: the reason for my flakiness. I'll be back to posting regularly now (wait until you guys hear what I did this past weekend! Here's a hint: cage match) but don't try to tell me that you could resist her if she rolled over in your lap and asked for a belly rub!

Fight Back

2010-05-14T09:12:00.000-05:00

"Torture is torture and humiliation is humiliation only when you choose to suffer."

-Chuck Palahniuk from Choke

Photo: Fight by Bruno Leyval

Things I Can't Afford: The Tory Burch Edition

2010-05-10T08:19:00.003-05:00

Let's get this out of the way first: I'm not a Tory Burch girl. Not that there's anything wrong with that!

That whole all-American-rich-bitch-mom scene is just not me. Her stuff is pretty and clean and subtle when I tend to like messy and vampy and loud stuff. You aren't going to find tasteful white Bermuda shorts in my closet or, for that matter, those annoyingly iconic flats that every other blond assistant account executive PR girl wears.

However, I would totally cut a bitch for these shoes.

They come (naturally) in the more tasteful nude and black colors, but how hot are the bright pink!?

Of course the price is crazier than a Lady Gaga rhinestone-encrusted lobster hat, but my lust and my bank account are currently not speaking to each other.

Tory Burch Wrap Up Heel*, $325

*snooze-worthy name, Ms. Burch. May I suggest Estella or Izzy or Candice or Katie Lyn?

Birthday Girl

2010-05-07T11:03:00.004-05:00

Guess who's birthday it is today? Traci Lords!

And also me!

Heart Shaped World

2010-04-30T09:24:00.005-05:00

Every once in awhile, I come across something that makes me want to ditch everything else in my wardrobe. I could live in this coat.

Almost every other coat I own can fall into two categories: sleekly modern heavy wool coats with loads of buttons or totally impractical (but none the less bad ass) leather jackets. Both styles are about as far as from romantic and whimsical as you can get and, therefore, I should own this coat.

On to the Wish List it goes (only 7 more shopping days left until my birthday)!

Betsey Johnson Heart Button Walking Coat, $70 (on sale from $118)

Things That are Awesome: C2E2

2010-04-29T12:09:00.011-05:00

So last week I was assigned to cover the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show 2010 and, you guys, it was a bit of a snoozer. The people who I met were very nice and it was all sort of fun being PRESS but, let's face it, faucets are not my passion.

After a couple exhausting hours of taking in the latest and greatest bathroom and kitchen innovations, I tucked away my voice recorder, pulled off my serious reporter headband, and headed towards the exit. The show was in the gargantuan McCormick Center in Chicago and I got lost on my way out (though that's not anything surprising. My sense of direction is so bad that I can get lost in my bathroom). I found myself wandering around a deserted loading dock looking for the way back to Museum Campus when a nice elderly gentleman on a security scooter finally put me out of my misery and asked if I needed directions. He asked which show I was with: the kitchen one or the comic book one.

Wait, what?!

There was a comic book convention here the whole time I was staring at sinks and wine racks!? C2E2 was underway and I was missing it, like a dolt. I mentioned to Nice Elderly Gentleman that I would have loved to gone and, without missing a beat, he asked, "Well, do you want to go?" You guys, there are good days and there are Jackpot days. That was a Jackpot day. Nice Elderly Gentleman told me to hop on his scooter, brought me to a side door, and let me sneak into the show with a wink and a "Have fun, Sweetie!"

It was heaven! I met some of the nicest people there and loaded up on free comics. Of course I was still wearing my serious reporter get up (black Mary Janes, a little black wool shift from Nicole Miller, and a black patent leather YSL tote) so I stuck out like a sore thumb. It isn't easy to stick out in a room full of people dressed like zombies and superheros but I did it. Somebody actually asked me if I was a librarian. That is how lame I looked.

Some of the cool people I had the pleasure of meeting:

Local Chicago band Wednesday Heroes, whose specialty is superhero songs, played me a make out jam about Scott Summers. They're performing at Challengers on Saturday (free comic book day!) for all you locals.

The people who make Night Zero, a photographic novel of the post-zombie-apocalypse world, let me get the same treatment their models/actors do. They manipulate photographs to make them look sort of like drawings, sort of like comics but completely beautiful. I asked for the biggest gun they had, natch. Hey! Night Zero guys, if you ever do a Chicago issue, call me!

David Petersen, writer and illustrator of the epic tales of the Mouse Guard signed an anthology for me and drew me my very own mouse guard! He was very gracious and I am now obsessed with his bad ass little mice. He'll be hanging around Chicago Saturday too at Graham Crackers.

Black Widow portrait courtesy of Anna Fischer
Ms. Marvel portrait courtesy of JLinto

Happy Birthday, John Waters!

2010-04-22T08:45:00.005-05:00

Happy birthday to one of my heroes (though he'd probably hate to be called that)! Thanks for making trash respectable and for freaking out the establishment.

In honor of his birthday, here are my top three favorite John Waters' movies:

1) Serial Mom, 1994

I talked my parents into letting me watch this when I was way too young- and I'm a much better person because of it! Meet Beverly Sutphin: a Martha Stewart-ish picture perfect housewife in a proper little Baltimore suburb who takes manners and good behavior seriously. Really seriously. One of John Waters' blackest comedies, it's also a non-preachy commentary on the celebrity criminal culture of the '90s.

I mean, who can't relate to Beverly?! Those people who steal your parking spot, talk (loudly) on their cell phone on the train, and cut in front of you in line- you can't tell me that the thought doesn't cross your mind. . .

2) A Dirty Shame, 2004

This is my husband's favorite John Waters movie. This hilarious NC-17 movie follows Tracey Ullman's prudish Sylvia Stickles as she bumps her head and turns into a depraved sex addict. Perverts take over the straight-laced neighborhood led by Sylvia, talented Ray Ray (Johnny Knoxville), uber busty Ursula Udders (Selma Blair) and the rest of their fetish focused friends. It's more fabulously hilarious than I can describe.

3) Cry-Baby, 1990

John Waters followed up mega-successful 'Hairspray' with 'Cry-Baby' starring a post-21 Jump Street Johnny Depp (his first motion picture role after the television show). Let's pause here and reflect on how amazing Johnny Depp is. He was a huge star at that point in his career and had his pick of any lame teenage heartthrob role that he wanted. Instead of playing it safe, he choose to do a John Waters movie with a former porn star and a character named Hatchet Face. Brave doesn't begin to cover it!

"I pride myself on the fact that my work has no socially redeeming value." -John Waters

Bow down, Kittens.

From Dusk 'til Dawn

2010-04-21T09:39:00.000-05:00

Real talk: every time I hear a Taylor Swift song, I want to be a teenager again.

I know, guys, it's pretty embarrassing. For some reason when I hear her music it reminds me of being silly and young and staying up late. When the most important thing in your life was the pre-calc test on Thursday and who's limo you were going to go in for prom. Of course it wasn't like that at all. High school was a lot of awkward social encounters, bad skin, and low self-esteem.

Like Taylor Swift, this April 2008 spread from Teen Vogue almost tricks me into believing that prom was fun. The fantasy proms are always better than the real life ones aren't they?

I hated my senior prom. Hated. My weenie little boyfriend was being a jerk and slow danced the whole night with my arch nemesis (I know!). I was devastated and ended up faking an illness so I could skip the after party. Of course the girl that I was then is long gone. If I did that night over right now, I'd dump the weenie boyfriend in the middle of the dance floor (perhaps key his car), flirt with the cutest football player there, and win the dance contest with girlfriends to our rendition of 'Lady Marmalade'.

How about the rest of you guys? Anybody love their prom?

Etsy Find: Innocence Bridal Shrug

2010-04-20T11:26:00.008-05:00

I'm tempted to get married again just so I can wear this gorgeous shrug!

In my imaginary-wedding-to-be, I'll be a summer bride and carry a bouquet of pink lollipops and peonies. They'll be a huge ice cream cake and a tower of different flavored whoopie pies for dessert.

Actually, forget about another wedding! Maybe I'll just have a crazy indulgent birthday party and invite everyone!

May 7th: only 17 more shopping days left. . .

Innocence bridal shrug by TianaCHE, $220

Little Mermaid

2010-04-12T10:01:00.000-05:00

Ready for some Monday morning pretties?

There have been a lot of vampire themed editorials lately, but I love the idea of embracing some other supernatural, folk lore-famous creatures. Vogue Nippon took on the lost city of Atlantis in their May 2010 editorial "The Girl from Atlantis" featuring Alla Kostromichova.

Question: are you guys feeling that crazy purple blush as hard as I am? It is killing me- I love it!

See the rest of the spread and the complete clothing credits at Tom & Lorenzo's fabulous blog.

Inspired

2010-04-09T09:07:00.001-05:00

"All the effort in the world won't matter if you're not inspired."

-from Chuck Palahniuk's Rant

Elkmont Synchronous Fireflies #2 by Judd Patterson

Bright Eyes Big City

2010-04-08T09:04:00.002-05:00

Dear Red Hot Annie,

Will you come to my house every morning and make me look this fantastic? Pretty please with sugar on top?

Love,
Katie

Burlesque Evolution - part 1 from Callie Lipkin on Vimeo.

Have you bought your tickets to the Windy City Burlesque Fest yet? If you haven't, we aren't friends anymore.

Things that I Have in Common with Gisele

2010-04-07T10:34:00.000-05:00

It's a short list.

I'm not a supermodel*. I don't date Tom Brady**. The one thing we do have in common is that we both take Kung-Fu.

During her pregnancy, Gisele began taking private lessons in Boston to stay in shape. I started taking Kung-Fu in January and, you guys, it's so good! Those who know me know that I'm pretty much one 'King of Queens' marathon away from regressing back into a sea slug or whatever we were before we were monkeys. The Husband, a regular gym rat, suggested we started taking a class together. Classes are great for me because I can't be trusted to work out on my own. My motivation to get sweaty is next to nil and pushing myself at the gym means I'll read Us Weekly and People. I need somebody to stand over me and tell me what to do. Kung-Fu has been amazing! I've lost weight, toned up, and am more flexible than I've ever been. Take it from Gisele and me: Kung-Fu is awesome.

I wrote a little essay about taking Kung-Fu and it ran on Gozamos last week. Here's the link to Kung-Fu Hustle if you'd like to check it out and drive up the page views for me. . .

*outside my imagination, that is.
**Though I do think he is the one person that The Husband wouldn't mind sharing me with as long as it made for a winning Patriots season.

Thing I Can't Afford: The H. Riddlebarger Edition

2010-04-06T08:56:00.008-05:00

I'm coveting these H. Riddlebarger shoes in a big way!

Pen and ink artist Halle Riddlebarger covered this pair of white leather shoes with her amazing sprawling doodles turning them into a fully functional work of art. The bare branched trees are part romantic and part sinister- they remind me of Salem in the fall.
Now who wants to lend me $259?

H. Riddlebarger "Trees and Birds", $259

Etsy Find: Nicole Lindner Fang Dress

2010-04-05T10:18:00.000-05:00

Places to Wear this Fangtastic Dress:

1) Season premiere party of 'True Blood' (June 13th, fellow fangbangers!)

2) Bella Cullen's bachelorette party

3) if you're an extra in a Lady Gaga video

4) the scary/goth/sexy vampire club they have in every vampire movie in the '90s

Any other suggestions?

Young Enough

2010-04-02T09:13:00.000-05:00

"We'll never be as young as we are tonight."

-from Chuck Palahniuk's Rant

Istanbul Not Constantinople by hakan photography

Leaving on a Jet Plane

2010-04-01T09:48:00.001-05:00

Perhaps I've been watching too much 'Mad Men' (okay, I totally have- it's an obsession!) but I've really been loving the sleek elegance of the 1960s especially the stewardesses. Today, flying is one of the least glamorous things you can do and the 'in flight team members' have uniforms nowhere near as fun as the old school get ups.
Can I borrow those boots?

Look at how high that ceiling is!

Spring Gap Ad or 'Eclipse' Still: You Decide!

2010-03-31T11:10:00.005-05:00

Things we Need to Talk About Concerning this New Still from the 'Eclipse' Set:

1) What is up with Jasper's hair?! I've never been a big fan of movie-Jasper, but I could at least see why other Twi-hards were swooning. Why would they make his hair so hideous? And didn't we already establish in 'Interview with a Vampire' that vampires can't change their hair?

2) Alice, are you wearing jeggings? Oh Honey, no.

3)Rosalie's wig gets better every movie.

4) Doesn't that mossy forest look amazing? It makes me want to move to the Pacific Northwest and open a mountain bike rental/coffee shop.

5) Where the heck is Emmett?!

6) It really does look like a Gap ad, doesn't it?

Please Stand By

2010-03-18T12:53:00.004-05:00

The past week or so has been crazy busy for me! Between getting loads of cavities filled and generally being awesome, I've picked up another freelance client and am working on another (fingers crossed!) so my poor little blog has been ignored. I'm surprised that it hasn't started acting out for negative attention like a teenager- deleting my blog roll, spamming my comment section, shaving its head. . .

Bear with me, loyal gorgeous readers! I'll be back on a regular schedule very soon. In the meantime, please to enjoy these pictures of dogs dressed as Lady Gaga:

Jesse Freidin, let's be best friends.

Things that are Awesome: Guinness Cupcakes

2010-03-12T10:38:00.000-06:00

What’s better than a beer? Beer cupcakes!

I made these Guinness cupcakes a little early for St. Patrick’s Day, and they were gobbled up faster than you can say, “Erin go bragh.” Guinness has a subtle, naturally sweet taste to it, so it melded nicely into cupcakes. The desserts weren’t overly sugary and heavy like some cupcakes are (which is both good and dangerous since I ate about four before I realized what happened). Tie on your green apron and try the recipe here!

Anybody doing anything fun for St. Patrick's day? It's looking pretty gloomy in Chicago. Hopefully, with a little luck of the Irish, Saturday will brighten up long enough to watch the river get dyed green.

Polishing Up

2010-03-11T15:58:00.006-06:00

New season, new nail polish!

We're springing forward an hour, the snow is melting, and I spotted three bunnies hopping in my front yard last night (total cute overload). The winter is sliding into spring and that means time for a new nail polish. All winter long, I've been sticking to my trusty Russian Navy but it's time for a change.

I popped into Target the other day to check out the Jean Paul Gaultier collection in person (ugh- it's bad news, guys) and ended up spending most of my time in the nail polish section. I picked up this great, bright teal color.

I also grabbed this dark glitter for all those future fun summer parties. I love the new 'Alice in Wonderland' themed polishes from OPI and this reminded me of the Mad as a Hatter color. Is anyone else startled by it's $29.99 price tag? Is that is priced in Wonderland dollars?

I was really hoping to find a great purple for the spring. I love the rich color of OPI's Domestic Goddess, but I also wouldn't mind finding a great grayish lilac (as long as it isn't too pastel '80s prom dress). The search continues. . .

Hey, Dollface!

2010-03-10T10:39:00.005-06:00

Last week I started watching the beyond brilliant AMC series 'Mad Men'. I could go on and on about how great it is (The story lines! The clothes! Jon Hamm's face! Christina Hendricks' boobs!) but you probably already watch it.

In order to promote their upcoming season 4*, they struck a deal with Mattel to make special edition 'Mad Men' Barbies. They'll be part of a premiere collectors series with a limited (way too small) run of 7,000 to 10,000 Joan, Sterling, Don, and Betty dolls apiece. They're pretty pricey at $75 each but I'm desperate for Joan Holloway doll to make snappy little comments and blow smoke in all my old Barbies' faces.

The fabulous and opinionated Tom and Lorenzo have more details and close ups at their blog here.

*I only just finished season 1 so no spoilers in the comments please! Okay maybe one: am I ever going to like Pete Campbell or he is a total slime ball the entire series?

Happy Friday!

2010-03-05T08:31:00.001-06:00

Laundry day would be a lot easier if it involved a flock of adorable singing birdies, wouldn't it?

American Idol

2010-03-04T16:22:00.008-06:00

Okay you guys, this is a biggie! I just did one of the coolest things I've ever done in my entire life. I know what you're thinking: "Katie, how can you ever top that time that you ate the whole Carvel ice cream cake on your own? Or all those Saturday nights in high school when you stayed at home?" Well, I don't appreciate your sarcasm but I'm bursting to tell you guys about it anyways!

I just held an Oscar.

Let that sink in. . . Ready? Okay! I just held an actual Oscar. Not a prop. Kodak is putting on a Meet the Oscars tour featuring several real Oscars and one they were crazy enough to let me hold (seriously I don't know what they were thinking. I was like Gollum holding The Ring. All of the sudden everything rational drained out of me and I had a vision of myself bolting for the exit with a flock of Oscar guards chasing me). It was a lot heavier than you think it'll be. I read somewhere that Oscar's weigh 8 pounds but it felt as heavy as a load of laundry to me. That's right: I just compared holding an Oscar to something as unglamorous as domestic chores.

All new Oscars are actually born in Chicago. Since 1982, they are molded, polished, and buffed by the good people of R.S. Owens & Company. The exhibit showed all the stages that the award goes through to become an Oscar. Their interiors are Britannium (an alloy of mostly tin and some antimony and copper- pictured right) and then plated with 24 karat gold. Fun facts for your Oscar parties!

The one I held is destined for someone at the 2011 Academy Awards. Isn't that interesting that they make the Oscars two years in advance? I kind of like the idea that the award has been already made but the movie is still a work in progress.

The tour also showcased a few other Oscars including Bette Davis' statue for 1938's 'Jezebel' (pictured left) and, excitingly enough, the Best Actor Academy Award for 2010 that is boarding a plane bound for Hollywood tonight (pictured right, center). I'm guessing it'll be in Jeff Daniels' hands on Sunday.

Picture Show

2010-03-03T16:45:00.008-06:00

The Superbowl may be my husband's favorite Sunday of the year but the Oscars are mine! How often do I get to wear my gaudiest rhinestones and rip on a bunch of red carpet hot messes? This year I'm throwing a big Oscar screening party (with the rest of my bitter kitten, highly judgemental friends) and here are my must haves:

Swag Bags: The members of the Academy will be getting goodies amounting to thousands of dollars. My guests are going to have to settle for candies, dollar store sunglasses, and other delicious treats.

Cast your Ballots: Official ballots are a staple at Oscar parties but this year I'll also be featuring Academy Awards Bingo. How About Orange has really fun printable Bingo sheets that are especially great for non-film buffs whose eyes glaze over after the first twenty minutes.

Menu: The menu is my favorite part of the party planning because it combines two of my favorite things: cooking and making puns. This weekend, I'll be serving up some delectable fare including. . .
Blueberry Avatarts
UnobtaniYUM
Blind Sliders (hubby's famous cocktail meatballs)
Button Up in the Air sugar cookies

Anyone else have fun Oscar plans?

Review: The Ripettes' 'Rebel without a Blouse'

2010-02-26T15:40:00.004-06:00

The crowd was made up of hep kats and kittens donning their best throw-back rockabilly threads and eagerly awaiting the red-lipped, quick-hipped Ripettes burlesque troupe to take the stage and start their Rebels without a Blouse revue. The show was pure fun: part Benny Hill slapstick, part sexy strip tease with all the energy of a teenager’s first sock hop. . .

Read the rest on Gapers Block here.

Real Estate Envy: The Fangtastic Cullen Family House

2010-02-25T12:45:00.010-06:00

Attention Fellow Twihards:

The Cullen Family house is up for sale. Yes, you read that right. That gorgeous, modern home that Edward brooded in, Emmet flexed in, and Alice flitted around in can be yours for the mere price tag of $3 million. If you're in the market for a new vampire lair (and really, who isn't these days?) head over to Soprovich Luxury Realty and check out the beautiful 5 bedroom, 4 bathroom Vancouver home. As always, click on the pictures to enlarge them (but prepare to be beyond jealous).

Check out that cozy little nook next to the windows towards the left. Wouldn't that be the perfect place to curl up with a good book or do some discreet necking? (See what I did there?)

I think I could actually talk my husband into considering it thanks to that pool.

Cook Italian for your human friends in your luxurious kitchen! Love that fireplace.

I say we all break our piggy banks, pool our resources, and have the best sleepover ever! I'll bring the cupcakes!

Ain't No Sunshine When She's Gone

2010-02-24T15:53:00.007-06:00

You know what perks up an otherwise doom-and-gloomy winter Wednesday?

Finding a package on your stoop fresh from the electronic jungles of eBay! Nestled inside the package was a ray of sunshine in the form of this beautiful J.Crew silk top. It's their gladiola print from S/S09 and I can't wait to wear it! Aren't the petals around the neck just darling?

Things That are Awesome: Letterheady

2010-02-23T10:25:00.000-06:00

New favorite site alert!

Letterheady is "an online homage to offline correspondence". It is marvelous! I'm the type of girl who can spend hours in a stationary store (candy colored envelopes! Butterfly-shaped confetti presses! Monogrammed thank you notes!) so, for me, this blog has just as much eye candy as Twihard's bedroom ceiling.

Tightly Wound

2010-02-22T15:56:00.010-06:00

My hubby and I have been day dreaming a lot lately. Specifically, we've been fantasizing about moving to Palm Springs and buying a convertible, a house with a pool, fire pit, and a huge patio for nightly BBQs under the swaying palm trees. We traveled there on our honeymoon and fell in love with the sunshine, lime trees, and complete and utter lack of snow.

If we did end up moving westward, the thing that I would miss most would be wearing tights. Colorful tights are the only thing that gets me through the loooooong Chicago winters with any molecule of sanity. I love tights! Argyle, striped, neon, lace- I love them all and embrace them in the winter the way I embrace s'mores in the summer (that is to say: a ridiculous amount).

I just stumbled upon Les Queues de Sardines, a French company that makes the most delightful, hand screened tights that double as conversation starters. My mission is now to find an American equivalent (Hello? Etsy Gods, can you hear me?).

You know this pair is my favorite!

Dummy Honey

2010-02-17T23:55:00.007-06:00

If this was a wacky '80s movies and my friends and I were accidentally turned into mannequins*, I would totally head straight to the Sports Authority to hit on their mannequins (can you picture the hilarious montage that would follow? Perhaps set to 'Every Little Thing She Does is Magic').

Can we talk about these guys?! How buff are they? They look like they wandered over to Sports Authority after their morning routine of lifting cars off of small children. Is Superman even this jacked in the comic books?

Although I do believe I've have quite a bit of competition from Miss Sports Bra over here.

*Presumably while wearing leg warmers, crimped side ponytails, and cruising the guys at the food court while nibbling Cinnabons.

Forget the Groundhog

2010-02-16T11:05:00.000-06:00

The first (real) sign that spring is around the corner is when Cubs tickets go on sale!

Hail to the Chief

2010-02-15T12:21:00.006-06:00

Happy Presidents Day!

I do love a three day weekend! To help us all feel more presidential while sitting on the couch watching Dexter episodes and eating Reese's Peanut butter Eggs (What? Isn't that how you spend your extra Mondays off?) I've put together this handy dandy gift guide. Why should Valentines Day be the only major gift swapping holiday in February anyways?

YeeHaw takes mud slinging to its inevitable level with this dream cage fighting promotional poster ($250). The six man battle royale, "The Snake Charmers vs. The Wind Bags", is nothing short of genius.

Free your apartment from banality just like Lincoln freed the slaves with DintDesign's pixel paper portrait ($95).

Party like it's 1796 with your hand knit forefather-approved Powdered Wig Hat from SaintReagansHollow ($40). Perfect for penning important speeches in front of a garbage can! Check out the ponytail tied with the little red bow- love it!

As Seen in the Front of Nick's Uptown

2010-02-11T13:16:00.002-06:00

Who can resist listening to such an adorable snowman?

Especially one with a top hat!

Once Upon a Time

2010-02-08T19:39:00.005-06:00

Jessica Biel is on the cover of Vogue this month (snore) but the real eye candy is from Louis Vuitton. The spring/summer ads are gorgeous! They invoke a dreamy fairytale with our pretty heroine lying in a bed of moss surrounded by friendly little doves. Isn't the lighting beautiful? I love the speckled shadows that fall on her as if there's a canopy of trees overhead.

Can we talk about how much I hate those clogs though?

Super Duper

2010-02-04T17:50:00.005-06:00

As Rhianna prepares for this weekend's Superbowl rehearsing in some superhero-worthy kicks (seriously, who's arch nemesis do I have to knock over to get a pair of those?), I'm preparing by making a slew of delectable goodies to munch while cheering for a big Colts loss.

Yesterday I spent about three hours (!) in the kitchen hand making each one of these little football truffles. If you have the time and patience to devote to these babies, they are as heavenly as Tom Brady is handsome. Check out the original recipe here on Bakerella. The recipe is very simple (only three ingredients and no baking); it's the football shaping and decorating that's labor intensive.

Happy baking and let me know if yours last until Sunday (I'm not sure mine will make it)!

Blood is the New Pink

2010-02-03T10:00:00.001-06:00

This weekend I found a whole new set of awesome girls to worship: derby chicks.

A group of us headed down to the Windy City Rollers' season home opener and had a blast! The first match was the Hell's Belle's verses the Double Crossers, the second was the reigning champs the Maniac Attackers verses the Fury. It was my first derby and I pretty much figured out what was going on by the second bout- it's a simple game but definitely worth a Wikipedia browse to understand the rules beforehand.

Anyways, it was a great time with a HUGE crowd of cheering supporters (they opened the upper deck of the UIC center to accommodate crowd). It's an intense game, too. My football-loving, tough guy hubby was screaming his head off the whole time. You have to admire not only the girls (who are insanely tough and awesome) but also all the officials, statisticians, and refs. Everyone there is a volunteer and works for nothing more than their love of rink rash.

One of the best parts about roller derby are the bad ass rink names. My favorites of the night were:
Slammah Montana
Tina Flay
Nina Millimeter
Deb Autry
Loco Chanel (she had a Chanel logo on her glittering pink helmet- genius!)
Zombea Arthur
Beth Amphetamine
Maul Holla
Zoe Trocious
Juanna Rumbel
Jackie Daniels
Mel Content

Who's in for the next match? And where can I get a pair of those awesome brass knuckle hot pants?

Middle photo by Joe RollerFan

Dolce & Gabbana FW 09 is the New Delia Deetz

2010-01-27T11:42:00.000-06:00

The other night, I was up watching one of my favorite childhood movies: Tim Burton's Beetle Juice (I was a weird kid). When I was little, I was always enamored by Lydia Deetz's (Winona Ryder) super Gothic wardrobe complete with black lace veils and spiked bangs but during this viewing a new style icon stepped forth from the ranks.

Doesn't Delia Deetz's (the incredible Catherine O'Hara) glove head band remind you of Dolce & Gabbana Fall/Winter 2009?

They even used her signature cat-eye liner!

Things That are Awesome: Cool Bridesmaids' Dresses

2010-01-26T11:44:00.001-06:00

Nothing beats a cool bridesmaid dress. I appreciate this even more now that I have been a bridesmaid and a bride.

I'm very obsessed with brides who take an altogether non-David's Bridal approach to their maids (see here and here)- add Ella and Sam's London wedding to that list! For their winter wedding, they had their bridesmaids wear metallic shifts, sequined cardigans, and black patterned tights. So cool, right? They look like an all-girl version of the Pips.

Bonus: They transported guests from ceremony to reception in a vintage Red Double Decker bus.

See the rest of their wedding here on Once Wed.
Pictures by Chloe of Caught the Light Photography

January Blues

2010-01-25T09:23:00.000-06:00

Is it totally ridiculous that I just want to stand around amongst a bunch of crepe paper flowers like this Anthropologie model? I don't even care what she's wearing, I just want it to stop snowing and spring to bloom!

. . .but that is a cute top.

Pratia Tank from Anthropologie, $68

I Want to Go There

2010-01-22T13:32:00.000-06:00

Which of these things are almost as awesome as this skirt?

1) Being mistaken as a model on your long weekend in the Cleve
2) A Slanket and a block of cheese at the end of a long day
3) Living every week like it's Shark Week
4) Accidentally roofie-ing Jon Hamm
5) All of the above

If I owned this skirt, I would wear it everywhere (especially weekend-long 30 Rock marathons).

The definitely un-Liz Lemon-like Paulita mini skirt by Diane von Furstenberg, $475

Escape Time: Dunton Hot Springs

2010-01-21T20:25:00.013-06:00

Is everyone else sick of their cubicle (figurative or literal)? Let's take a little fantasy vacation! Pack your coziest sweater and one of those adorable hats with the pom poms on top because we're going to Dunton Hot Springs in a faraway valley of Colorado's San Juan Mountains.

You'd think that, being stuck halfway through a Chicago winter, I'd pick someplace warm and sandy to fantasize about but Dunton Hot Springs is just too gorgeous to pass up. It was a town founded by miners, trappers, and cowboys turned ghost town that's been transformed into a glamorous retreat. Some of the romantic little log cabins have their own private hot springs! I never knew I wanted my own private hot spring until just now!

This is what libraries look like in my dreams and Disney movies. Is that a bear skin rug!? I dare say this looks better than the Gryffindor common room (Google it, Muggles).

Television! Teacher, Mother, Secret Lover.

2010-01-19T17:02:00.007-06:00

Couch potatoes get a bad rap.

We're always portrayed as lazy scalawags with crumbs on our chins who are too dumb to read a book. Granted, that is a pretty accurate description of my 'Dancing with the Stars' viewing parties-of-one (am I really the only person who loves that show besides my girl Annie Barrett?), but TV is also the medium that brought us 'The Shield', 'Firefly', 'Arrested Development', and other series that far surpass even the most Oscar-worthy films.

Austrian designer Albery Exergian understands that TV isn't always a lowbrow hobby and has put his own super modern spin on art posters of his favorite American series (which I found via Rugby's Culture blog). The titles are hidden in the images below- see how many you can guess before peeking at the answers underneath. . . For the record, I couldn't guess any so best of luck!
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

1. MacGyver (paperclip)
2. Miami Vice (cocaine)
3. True Blood (fangs)
4. Boston Legal (cigars)
5. The Wire (phone receiver)
6. Mad Men (highball)

Review: Vaudezilla's 'Out with the Clothes, In with the Nudes!'

2010-01-14T08:01:00.000-06:00

There's not much that can get me off the couch and into the snow drifts during a Chicago winter storm warning, but Vaudezilla's weekly Thursday night burlesque shows are well worth the risk of frostbite.

The Blue Bayou hosts the free weekly burlesque show and their classic Cajun motto, "Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez," dovetails nicely with the Vaudezilla's razzle dazzle burlesque philosophy. 'Out with the Clothes in with the Nudes!', hosted by the quick quipping Dick Dijon, is pure, distilled burlesque. There's no fancy lighting, fog machines, or other gimmicks here- nor any need for them. The girls step daintily down the bar top, in between drinks, to a little wedge of a stage and give it their all. . .

Read the rest of my review on Gapers Block here.
Photo by BCJ Photography

She Must Suffer to Her Last Breath

2010-01-13T11:00:00.000-06:00

Some of the best villains ever written are the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad from Quentin Tarantino's 'Kill Bill' series. A troupe of vicious hit men (and women) led by the titular Bill. The assassins are all codenamed after snakes including the murderous foe Elle "California King Snake" Driver played by Darryl Hannah.

The ultimate bad girl, Elle Driver, wears some killer (get it?) outfits on screen including an intimidating and sharply tailored black suit and an awesome tromp l'oeil trench coat that I'd give my right eye for.

If I was besties with Elle, my ex-boyfriends would be shaking in their boots and I would suggest these new flats from Nine West for her. I figure sometimes she has to get tired of doling out roundhouse kicks with stiletto boots and has errands to run that require a more practical shoe. Why not pick up your dry cleaning and run to the poison store in these flats? Bonus: their snake skin print pays homage to her code name, California King Snake.

Naughty flats from Nine West, $59

Fun fact: California King Snakes are naturally impervious (but not totally immune) to the venom of rattlesnakes. They are known to feed on rattlesnakes regularly. Get that? A snake so bad ass that it feeds on rattlesnakes! Welcome to my nightmares, California King Snake.

Want it Now: Locher's Blouse

2010-01-07T09:05:00.001-06:00

From a distance, this top is as sweet and frothy as a cupcakes but up close it has a serious attitude problem- Doris Day from 100 paces, Joan Jett within flirting distance.

Locher's website is chock full of sass and also features a collection of dainty accessories and vintage looking frame clutches all embroidered with their signature brand of naughty charm.

I Ain't your Fuckin' Sweetheart top from Locher, $69