Friday Favorites: feeling French

Other than the bluebonnets, that is. Or should I say,
1. bleu bonnettes






2. finger waves





She's got Bette Davis eyes.

3. exposed zippers





4. fleur de lis





5. espresso over ice cream




Did you know that this delicious treat has a proper name in Italy? It's called affogato. Delicioso!

There's this little game we like to play.

It's simple. You all take turns naming a famous person you're attracted to who may not fit the cultural stereotype of "attractive." I happen to love this game, and I'm not sure why. Maybe because it's really fun to own up to the crushes you have who don't quite fit the norm of "crush-worthy." Let's be honest: there are a ton of really amazing, talented, appealing people in the world who don't look like Brangelina.

This past weekend, we had our favorite Marrieds visit, and in the midst of all the eating and playing around town, we played this game. I'd like to share a few of the names that came up, although I'll never tell who said what.

1. Alan Rickman

I must confess, this was one of mine. Maybe it's his accent. I can't explain it and I don't think I should have to.

2. Bill Murray


3. Fionnula Flanagan


4. Philip Seymour Hoffman


5. Sarah Jessica Parker

OK, OK. I feel a little bad including SJP here. Not only has she been my imaginary BFF for years, but I just don't believe she belongs on this list. At the same time, I've heard from a ton of people who don't think she's quote-unquote conventionally pretty, so there you have it.

6. Woody Allen


7. Ronald Reagan


You guys! Yes, I loved President Reagan back in the day, but I had no idea he was so foxy in his pre-president years. Check him out! That doesn't look like Nancy to me...



Anyone else you think should join the list?

I don't take naps every day.

Let's say one out of every three or four days? It's not a bad ratio.


Today, it was getting late, nearly 6:00, and I thought that I might have missed my napping window. Then I was like... wait a second! There IS no window.

I fully believe napping is a right, not a privilege.


On the subject of sleeping (how's that for a transition?) I discovered this app not long ago.  You set it for the latest time you can wake up, and then it detects (based on your movements) your lightest stage of sleep and wakes you up within a 30 minute window.  It's kind of spooky how well it works.  It totally solves the problem of feeling groggy when your alarm goes off.
One caveat: if you have kids or dogs (we have schnauzers) who might wake you up before your alarm goes off, your iphone may think you're in a light stage of sleep, when you're really just dealing with your dogs, or kids or vermicomposting bin or whatever the case may be. 

Whether you enjoy napping, sleeping in or going to bed early, good sleep is a beautiful thing. 


To think, in the olden days, a nap for a working woman looked something like this: 

 

Turn-of-the-century artist Julian Dupre says so much in this woman's expression.  Maybe she's saying to herself, "It's been too long since my last mani-pedi." Or even, "Thank god my DVR is recording Bravo right about now." The interpretation is entirely up to the viewer. That's what I love about art. 

Poll #1 results are in

Which is the creepiest?

You said...
14% - People who make eye contact for too long.
19% - Beat-up white vans without windows on the sides.
23% - Possums. Even possum babies.
43% - Strangers who walk behind you too closely.
(I think I lost a percentage point in there, but I'd like to blame that on Blogger, not my own math.)

It's official. Strangers who walk behind you too closely are creepier than possums.  Even possum babies.

Vote now on the new weekly poll!
The question for this week is: If you were to see Miley Cyrus in the mall, the most appropriate course of action would be to...

Happy ...Easter?

Why so serious?

Friday Faves: Only slightly obsessed with the 1950s

1. Modern Mobiles by Flensted





2. Circle Skirts




The only down side to circle skirts is it's dangerous to wear them on windy days. I've had Marilyn moments more than I'd care to admit in circle skirts. But they're worth the risk.

3. Rotary Phones





4. Patent Leather




A word of caution: Beware searching google images for "patent leather." Just sayin.

5. Rhubarb Pie




I never really loved pies until I tasted rhubarb. It's almost more tart than sweet, and absolutely perfect.
My good friend Stacy makes the most fabulous rhubarb pie. She professes that it's really easy, but based on how delicious it is, I don't believe her for a second.

I'd rather be called a bitch than a nerd.

Today I honed in on my trigger word: nerd.

I said something silly today to a coworker and she walked out of my office, laughing. Then she threw a word over her shoulder, "Nerd."
My smile drooped. I felt sad and well, nerdy.
I probably wouldn't have even stopped to think about it, except the same thing happened to me a couple months back on Facebook! An old friend from elementary school wrote on my wall, "You're still a nerd."
OK, yes, she wrote it in response to my claim that if Jane Austen were alive today, she'd totally be my BFF. I suppose that may have been asking for it, but it still made me feel kind of bad and like I was the last one picked for teams at kickball or something (which I always was, by the way).

In school, the number one word I was called was "nerd." I heard it at least once every single day circa fifth to ninth grade. Sometimes it was me who was using the word. But it's still a label. Other labels that flew around in the air on a regular basis were: fat, stupid, ugly, slut. Plus many others. You may remember them. By all accounts, the word "nerd" isn't so bad at all. It just so happens it's the one that was directed at me and the one I maybe even labeled myself. Weird.

After thinking through these awkward leftover middle school feelings, I decided to just own it. Be a nerd! Take the word back. Now I just need to get this shirt to complete my moving forward process.

What would Dorothy Gale do?

If DG were to pick out some glammy new ruby slippers, do you think she'd go for these
Moda Spana Patent Platform Peep Toe Pumps
sale $49 (regular $79)


or...

do you think she'd go for these
Christian Louboutin Metallic Patent Pumps?
regular $585


The real question boils down to this:
Is Dorothy Gale more TJ Maxx or more Saks?

One more reason I love Craigslist.

Today I scored this incredible vintage Olivetti studio 44 typewriter.

I found out it was made in Italy in 1952.
I found out that Ralph Ellison and Tennessee Williams wrote on the same model.
I found out that they sell between $200 and $425.

Guess how much I paid for mine? Ten bucks, dahling!
I'm already picturing the fab photoshoots that will feature this little beauty. Stay tuned...


If you crave the sound of a typewriter, but are stuck firmly in 2010, you can download this app that makes your keyboard sound like a typewriter! (Only works for macs.) Luckily, the sound is adjustable so you don't have to annoy your significant other or friends more than necessary.

The Great White Skirt Project: before

So,
a while back I bought this white pleated skirt. By "a while back," I mean seven years ago.
It came from the first Isaac Mizrahi line for Target, if I remember correctly. Now they have tons of amazing designers working with them (I mean, have you seen the stuff from Jean Paul Gaultier?).

I think I wore the white skirt once. Maybe twice.
It always felt like a cross between a private-school uniform and tennis set.
Here is said skirt:


I've been thinking a lot about dying it, although I've never done it before. I did watch this great little tutorial courtesy of Elizabeth Gleeson over at Emerging Thoughts that makes me feel less scared of using dye. In fact, it made me feel downright eager to try it.

As of now, I'm leaning toward red.


Or maybe green.


Or the perfect shade of pink.


Or maybe (and this is the farthest out for me) bright yellow.


If you've ever dyed clothes before, I'd greatly appreciate any advice you can offer.
Also, (and perhaps even more important) what color would you dye this white skirt if it were yours?