Fast in Slow Motion

Bangs & Vests & Boots Oh My!

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:22:44 -0400

About twice a year I go through my closet and blindly throw in everything that I haven’t worn in recent months. I work swiftly, like ripping of a bandaid. I only keep what I really love. I had decided to donate this old denim jacket that I hadn’t worn a long time. In this month’s issue of Vogue there is a whole page chronicling how cool denim vests are. I remembered that I had a denim jacket so I did a little DIY denim project. I never wore this denim jacket because the sleeves were so tight that they made my arms feel constrained.

I love layering. That’s why my favorite season for fashion is the fall. I enjoy adding different materials and texturs to make an outfit look different each time. I really like how the vest turned out.

I’d cordially like to introduce to you my new favorite boots of all time. I’ve been wanting a pair of motorcycle boots for years. I’ve been very particular on what exactly I’m looking for. They must be chocolate brown, they must have a buckle, I wanted a zipper down the front, and really wanted a tongue that I could fold down. These are awesome because I can wear them completely zipped up or only halfway and fold the rest down. I got them at a vintage store. I have the hardest time finding boots in my size, 40. I can’t wait to wear them in the fall with skinny jeans and big comfy sweaters.

Also, I got bangs! I love the versatility they give you. Sometimes I brush them straight across or a side part them to the side. Othertimes I completely pin them back to get out of my face. They’re fun to play around with and give me the freedom to coordinate them with whatever style I’m going for. The other day I wore a 1950’s vintage dress and I curled them under and did retro waves.

I have some jeans that I haven’t worn in ages since we’re in the middle of a record breaking heat wave. I’m thinking of making some daisy dukes out of them. Or jorts. Whatever you want to call them. Jorts reminds me of skorts. Like the old school uniform I used to have to wear. The skirts with the built in shorts. Remember those?

Guest Post: My Mom's Experience Navigating the Subway

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:02:00 -0400

I managed to get lost on the wrong subway. I was going uptown on a subway, that diverged to Queens. I got off in a deserted station. The sound of breaking glass made my heart beat faster. No one was on the streets. Rain was whipping into me and sand was blasting my face. I could not find the entrance to go into the opposite direction. I stood on the corner and felt like I was in the Twilight zone. Finally, a man emerged from the gust of wind and he told me how to return to uptown. I was trying to connect with Cassidy, so that we could see the new Target, that was opening in Harlem. The people have been so helpful. Two boys led me to Pleasant street in Harlem. Ladies help me carry the cart full of groceries up the many steps in the subway’s exit. Their smiles have graced the good feeling, that I have while I wander the streets, when I am not in Cassidy’s apartment.

Day 155: I’ve spent much of the day trying to track down...

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 23:41:57 -0400

Day 155: I’ve spent much of the day trying to track down the department head’s secretary. For the past two weeks they’ve been going back and forth about who’s going to change my grade. Somehow I ended up with a WN for my Astronomy lab. Hunter is one of those schools where you have to be persistently proactive to get stuff done. The average time it takes someone to graduate at Hunter is six years. I was feeling quite precocious today after I went to the office for the fourth time this week and it was still closed. So, I left a little message the door. The deadline to apply for graduation is fast approaching. I can’t move to LA until I get my degree and I can’t get my degree until she changes my grade. There’s a lot resting on this getting straightened out and I’m going to keep hassling the department until they get it right. So take that. And rewind it back.

veronicalovesarchie: i’m liking this palette. not usually a...

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 21:12:23 -0400

veronicalovesarchie:

i’m liking this palette. not usually a fan of wearing red, but this could change…

via

West Side Story

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 10:50:06 -0400

Yesterday I was sitting in class, bored out of my mind. The professor talks more than she listens and refuses to see other people’s point of view. I was sitting there “taking notes” aka making a to-do list of things I needed to get done when I got a text. It read, “Hey, sorry last minute but 2 extra tickets to West Side Story tonight. Want them?” That’s the thing I love about New York. When you least expect it, something spontaneous happens that turns your whole day around. I rushed home after class, picked up my Mom, and went straight to the theatre to make the 7PM curtain. Doesn’t that seem so early for a Broadway show to start? Most of them start at 8PM.

I wore my favorite new gray silk shorts. I’ve been really anti-dresses lately. Shorts are so much more comfortable and designers are getting really creative with the material they use. Shorts used to be associated with only denim, khaki, or cargo. Now there options that are appropriate for more dressy occasions. I especially love them when they’re high waisted it feels very 1940’s.

Afterwards we were starving. My Mom has been dying to go to the brand new Shake Shack that just opened in midtown. It’s near my apartment and the outside was completely boarded up while they were building it. One day, the boards were taken down and the huge sign was unveiled. I had been walking past the construction sight for over a year and had no idea that they had been building a new Shake Shack location!

Since West Side Story starts earlier than all the other shows we beat the after theatre crowd for getting in line. By the time we had sat down to eat the line stretched half way down the block.

I was absolutely thrilled to see that their meat is completely organic. There’s no added hormones and the animals are all farm raised. I love hamburgers but rarely eat them because I refuse to eat them unless it’s natural beef. The chocolate shake is free trade and they got the vanilla coffee beans from the Amazon Rainforest. I like what Shake Shack is supporting and will definitely be going back.

Lindsay Lohan, 24, her name and face is all over the news because she is a drug addict and went to jail. Julio Vargas, 23, Paul Miller, 22, Christopher Eastman, 28, Joe Wrightsman, 23, Justus Bartett, 27, Dave Santos, 21, are all Marines, who gave their lives for us this week in Afghanistan. Honor them by reposting.

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 10:24:36 -0400

emmy-leee:

iwantmybearsuit:

dreamland33:cityyandcolour:beneathmybones:deadendfriends, twatsonblack, -lovefox, mumueller, (via deerjesus)

Actress Cassidy Gard in PINKMEMO for Personal Summer Style

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 19:03:15 -0400

Actress Cassidy Gard in PINKMEMO for Personal Summer Style

Day 156: This morning I got picked up at 5 AM to go to the CBS...

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:59:14 -0400

Day 156: This morning I got picked up at 5 AM to go to the CBS Early Show.

There’s always a lot of downtime in between pick up time and show time. Today we had about 4 hours with a lot of sitting around. I got a little stir crazy and was extremely tired. You know that sleep drunk feeling that makes your eccentric side come out? Well, we definitely had fun in front of the weather screen. One of my favorite girls was there today. We had a lot of fun teasing each other about the granny shoes we were wearing in the segment.

I’m doing the CBS Early Show tomorrow morning. Our segment...

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 01:15:05 -0400

I’m doing the CBS Early Show tomorrow morning. Our segment goes on at 8:40 AM exactly. It’s all about shoes. It’s a last minute booking so we haven’t even had a fitting yet. Normally they do it the day before at the studio. I imagine tomorrow will be something like a scene from Cinderella as we see which shoes fit who and try to throw it all together in time to go live. It’s currently 1:09 AM and the car picks me up at 5AM which means I will be on national television on 4 hours of sleep. I was laying in bed until I remembered the producer sent a last minute e-mail reminding there would be close up shots of our feet in the shoes so you know, “Be prepared for that.” I thought of my toes in the Revlon shade of Go Get ‘Em Gold! and realized I might need something a little more subtle. I settled on nude attitude by Essie. It’s classic, goes with everything, and couldn’t possibly clash with whatever I’m thrown into.

Day 157

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 23:57:00 -0400

My Mom has been visiting for the month of June. Yeah, a whole entire month. Admittedly, I was a little nervous to how that would go. Sometimes we bicker, she asks a lot of questions, and she gets lost all the time. Also, we haven’t spent that much time together since I was in high school and that was three years ago. However, I have to say it’s been awesome. You know those erotic video stores on 8th Ave in midtown? My Mom wandered into one the other day when she saw the $2 DVD sale not realizing it wasn’t Blockbuster rom-coms like she had in mind. I was in hysterics when she retold the story. I had my Women in French Lit class today and called my Mom on the break. I told her to get the N downtown train from 49th Street and get off at Astor Place. Then, I met her and we went to Sushi Lounge on 8th Street and Ave A. Yes, my Mom is wearing a silly bracelet. I’m so tired of those things. They have infiltrated every last person I know.

Afterwards we walked around the East Village talking about all the places we used to go in 2007. My first apartment was on 10th Street and 2nd Ave. This was my first neighborhood and I try to remember what it was like to be 17 on my own for the first time in a city like New York. My quintessential uniform for scorching hot summer evenings would be the following:

While she was taking this someone called, “Cassidy!” My Mom snapped the photo the second they called my name. It took me a split second to register who it was before I burst into this expression…

As if you can’t tell, I really love running into old friends. It makes this big old city feel that much smaller. Matty is a professional ballet dancer who studied at Alvin Ailey. I met him through my first boyfriend in New York City. Matty is credited as being the first to ever bring me to the holy mecca that is Beacon’s Closet.

Alright gentleman, listen up. Ever want to surprise your girl and make her jaw drop? This little florist on 1st Ave and 10th Street sells red rose petals in a bag. For get this, $2. For the price of a can of soda you can forever give her the opportunity to say, “There were red rose petals everywhere!” I’m sure it goes without saying to tell you the scent was out of this world. Let’s call it “Romance in a Bag.”

I couldn’t help but stop into the East Village Urban Outfitters. I always find the most amazing deals every time I step in there. Today they were having the $5 sale. Every time I go into UO I look for the same necklace. They never have my astrological sign. I was practically convinced they didn’t carry mine after all. Yet today right as I was walking out, I found one. A lonely little Sag plate all by itself. I love it.

The rose garden in the cemetary across the street at the historic church on the corner of 10th Street and 2nd Ave.

Finally, no jaunt to the East Village is ever complete without a stop into Yogurtland. I recommend the cake batter fro-yo mixed with red velvet and a dash of pistachio. Then, top it with cookie dough balls, gummy bars, and endless sprinkles. It really is heaven. I fill it to the brim every time and never pay more than $4. Cheap is good, I definitely prefer it to Pinkberry which is three doors down.

As Tom Petty sings, “There’s something good, waiting down this road, running down a dream.” This is my opportunity to remember all the aspects of New York that will forever be embedded in my heart.

January 1, 2011 will mark when I am officially done with...

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 23:38:00 -0400

January 1, 2011 will mark when I am officially done with college. It will be the start of a new year. It also represents the planned move day to make the cross country voyage from New York to Los Angeles. I do everything a little ahead of schedule. I graduated high school a year early. I’ll be graduating college two years early. I’ll be moving immediately after graduating. I’m excited and nervous all at the same time. I have been living in this city for three years now. I walk with a purpose. People never bother giving me brochures about city tours for visitors. I constantly get asked for directions. Maybe it’s just because I look approachable. However, I like to think it’s because I look like I know exactly where I’m going. I don’t really get lost anymore. In one word, I’m comfortable. I’m content. I’m adjusted. This is the town I grew up in. I was a baby when I moved here. Just 17 and I knew no one. Now I have exactly 157 days left in this city. Three huge things are going to happen in the matter of one month. I’m going to turn 21, I’m going to graduate college, and I’m going to make a cross country move. Each day I’m going to tell a story of what was special about that day. Because even the worst days in New York are unique in their own special way. Today is special because it’s July 26th, a day that is memorable because it’s my brother’s birthday. Also, because in exactly five months I’ll be turning 21. Somehow today just feels like the right day to begin.

Happy Birthday to my brother Gene! He’s one of my favorite...

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 23:11:33 -0400

Happy Birthday to my brother Gene! He’s one of my favorite people in the whole world. We were both born on the 26th, him in July and me in November, ten years apart. Since we’re ten years apart we skipped over the bickering stage that most siblings go through. As I got older and we got closer he just became this wise voice that gave the best advice. Case in point, when we went rock climbing on the side of a mountain I got really scared. He talked me through each turn and didn’t even make fun of me when I was hyperventilating and crying like a little baby. Also, he’s really funny and not just chuckle to be polite funny. He’s definitely my favorite person to people watch with because the commentary is so hysterical. Every time he gets a year older it’s a reminder that my birthday is exactly five months away. This next one coming up (21!) is my last milestone birthday before…50! Last year was a big one for us because it was my last as a teenager (hallelujah) and his last year in his twenties.

With Gene in 2008 when I visited them in their new house for the first time. That was an amazing summer. It was before I had even started college. I was 18 at the time and had just discovered sun-in which is why my hair is orange. Also, I never liked the shape of that dress. It made me feel like a parachute but it was Florida Gator colors so I rocked it for every game. I have since given it away.

This photo encompasses everything I love about going to visit my family in Kentucky. Their house is exactly what makes me understand the saying, “Home is where the heart is.” My nephew is Dexter on the right and Oliver the blonde is his little cousin. This was before my niece Maura was born.

I know we always promise we will call more often but starting NOW we are going to go back to our Sunday phone call tradition. I can’t wait until I turn 21 and we rock Las Vegas together because there is no one else I would rather teach me to gamble. I can’t wait until I get to buy you a drink.

Your Sister

If I had to pick a song that encompassed the camaraderie between...

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 10:00:00 -0400

If I had to pick a song that encompassed the camaraderie between us it would be My Girl. We started the day early to avoid the scorching hot sun and made our way through Nolita. My Mom took her for a few minutes while I dashed into Urban Outfitters to check out the major summer clearance they are currently having. After shopping we tried to hail a taxi cab to lunch.

There were no cabs to be found anywhere so I did what any Mom would do and scooped her up and started walking.

She was so happy to cool off once we finally got our table.

At the end of the day she was in desperate need of a nap. Doesn’t she just look exhausted here? I swear she’s just like a little baby that needs downtime and playtime.

Well, I guess you’ll say, What can make me feel this way?

My girl, (My girl, my girl) Talkin’ ‘bout my girl. (My girl).

I love this little lady so much!

via Sunday night Postsecret. Sounds like something I would do if...

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 23:49:14 -0400

via Sunday night Postsecret. ~~Sounds like something I would do if I had kids.~~

I adore Melissa. I’ve been reading the pure sweetness of...

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 23:11:29 -0400

I adore Melissa. I’ve been reading the pure sweetness of her blog sinceEverly was still the size of her now pinkie. She is one lucky little lady to have such amazing parents. When I read that she said her first word I broke into the biggest smile ever. How exciting! Congratulations!

dearbaby:

(Photo: Breakfast. Somewhere in the city last week. We had bloody marys while Everly helped herself to her own chubby fingers)

Tonight Everly was fussy when we put her down to sleep. I shushed her and rubbed her back as she drifted off and when I thought she was well on her way to dreaming, I slowly tiptoed from the room.

I made it to the door before she starting crying again. I stood there for a minute hoping she’d settle herself, but she kept on. Then she pushed herself up on her arms, turned to look at me and said “ma ma”

I’ve been mouthing those words to her for months. “Ma ma. Ma ma. Da da Da da”

The word was so blatant. Not an accidental combination of syllables. Not a “i think she said”. Mama. Clear as a bell.

In that moment, she wanted me to come back to her. her mama. me.

What a momentous occasion in the life of a new mom - the very first of a million times I hope to hear mama floating from her small lips to my ears.

she called me mama. she called me mama. she called me mama!!!

Love,

M

I check weather.com incessantly. I always want to dress climate...

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 22:09:39 -0400

I check weather.com incessantly. I always want to dress climate appropriate. I can’t stand being too hot or too cold, it just makes me feel uncomfortable. Often times I check out the temp for West Hollywood which is the neighborhood I’m thinking of moving to. I like consistency and seeing a 75 degrees straight down the 10 day forecast made me feel quite content. There’s nothing like the satisfaction of seeing a pattern.

Sunday Funday

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 20:09:45 -0400

I’m happy to report that I am no longer going to be an iPhone photographer. I have a real grown up snazzy camera with all the bells and whistles. I’ve had the worst luck with all the cameras that I’ve ever owned. They always jump into water or crash themselves against the pavement and break their lenses. I took a little day trip to Brooklyn with my Mom and we went to one of my favorite antique stores. I always forget the name of it but it’s right below Buffalo Exchange which is at 505 Driggs Avenue in Williamsburg. On the way we stopped at this corner deli for ice tea because it was hot out today.

My favorite part of the store is the vintage postcards. It’s fascinating to read correspondence that is at times over a hundred years old. If you get really lucky you’ll come across a love letter.

Then, make your way over the the bin of antique photgraphs. They’re quite inexpensive and if a particular one really touches you in some way then it’s completely worth it to hold onto.

I have to stop myself from the desire to frame every vintage Life magazine I come across. They’re just so iconic and timeless. I adore them. They have quite the selection.

I love pins with ironic witty sayings like Ithaca is Gorges. It just makes me smile.

I’ve never bought used silverware before but after seeing this I thought to myself how cool it would be to have a collection of mismatched utensils from different time periods. Every now and then I come across a fork with monograms and if I ever find one with CRG I’ll buy it in a second.

There were endless stacks of these back issues of Playboy. It was funny to observe how dated the looks are compared to now.

I think it goes without saying that if you do make it to Willamsburg your trip would not be complete without a visit to Beacon’s Closet. It’s pretty much the only place I shop anymore.

I can’t believe I’m going to live here in less than...

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 13:08:16 -0400

I can’t believe I’m going to live here in less than 6 months (OMG!).

(via alanacadiz, ulac)

I can’t stand wearing wrinkled clothes and darling Nala...

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 23:50:40 -0400

I can’t stand wearing wrinkled clothes and darling Nala (my foster baby) chewed up my iron chord last month. She pulled down the hanging chord from the shelf and chewed it right in half. Tonight I realized that my brand new dress was completely wrinkled so I did what my Mama taught me a long time ago. I just hung it in the shower with me while I was getting ready and the steam straightened all the wrinkles out. For someone that hates ironing as much as I do this is a great tip to remember.

At Madison Square Park about to head to dinner with Sarah who I...

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 20:02:08 -0400

At Madison Square Park about to head to dinner with Sarah who I hadn’t seen since July 4th. It’s been far too long and I’m so excited to catch up. It’s muggy out so I wanted to break out my favorite crisp white shorts. The blouse is ecote, I really liked the cutouts because I thought it was in interesting design. Metallic shoes by Isaac Mizrahi and good company by S. Happy Friday!