Those to Come

New Tunes Tuesday: Ingrid Michaelson

2012-01-24T12:08:00.001-06:00

I've been bad, I know. The end of 2011 was crazy and with everything going on I decided it would be better to take some time off and refocus. I'm back now though, and things will be better than ever! I've got some exciting new ideas that I'm looking forward to sharing with you and rather than babble about them I'm just going to jump right in.

As some of you may know, Tuesday is the sort of unofficial album release day for the music industry. This week one of my favorite indie-pop ladies, Ingrid Michaelson, released her new album Human Again. You can stream the entire album for free right now on AOL so check it out if you're a fan of Sara Bareilles or A Fine Frenzy.

How to Marry a Millionaire

2011-10-07T23:35:00.002-05:00

Here I am on yet another Friday night with my main squeeze (Gromit) watching a movie. I'm in the mood for a classic and since Netflix's streaming options in that genre are pretty limited I landed on How to Marry a Millionaire. It doesn't get much better than Lauren Bacall, Betty Grable AND Marilyn Monroe. Not to mention an all too brief appearance from William Powell. If you've never seen The Thin Man series and you love a good husband/wife crime solving team you're missing out. Not to mention Myrna Loy is probably one of the sassiest and most likable classic film stars (in my opinion). Oh, and Gromit says I have to mention Asta, his favorite tv dog. Back to the movie though! The fashion in this movie is phenomenal and I secretly wish people (especially men) still dressed with such purpose and flair.

I'm embarking on a project to pare down my wardrobe and incorporate some classic essentials that are high quality. I'm definitely guilty of quantity over quality and now that I'm not schlepping around campus on 100 degree days I think I can stand to make more of an investment in to what goes in my closet. I'll definitely be looking to the past for inspiration and following tips from other bloggers. I know I'll still pick up some trendier pieces on the cheap here and there, but I think my next shopping trip will be to the outlet mall. What girl doesn't love a good sale? Well, I think I'll start on My Man Godfrey now. Happy weekend everyone!

Bon Iver, Bon Iver

2011-08-31T10:28:00.002-05:00

Like most people, I think I get a little possessive when an artist I've been listening to for years finally breaks out. Bon Iver most definitely falls into that category and now that I've been listening to him for 3-4 years I have to avoid irrationally lashing out at people who profess their newfound love for him. If I'm not careful I regress to middle school and irrationally proclaim "He's mine!" (I never really did that...I think.) Instead I try to be happy for Justin Vernon and, more importantly, obsess over these fantastic videos he and some incredibly talented fans have been creating.

To date, two videos have been released by Bon Iver for Calgary and more recently, Holocene. Both are incredibly beautiful and have inspired fans to produce their own tributes that look like something Justin Vernon might have dreamed up himself. The first unofficial video from Dylan Wiehahn is eerily similar to Vernon's own video for Holocene and I have a hard time picking a favorite between the two. The latest to emerge is from James Gundersen and features the song Michicant, which does not currently have an official version. I'm really loving the theme of young boys and this sense of innocence and connectivity with nature. I hope that between Vernon and his fans they're able to cover every song on the album. Enjoy and let me know what you think!

Bon Iver "Michicant" Unofficial fan video from James Gundersen on Vimeo.

Please Pleat Me

2011-08-30T10:26:00.002-05:00

Working in a professional office and having a tight budget means I have to try and balance my work wardrobe with what I wear every day. For the most part I've been pretty successful although there are definitely days where I feel like I'm a little heavy on the casual and not so much on the business. Fortunately, my bosses are pretty laid back and with 100+ degree temperatures all summer they don't feel much like dressing up either. That said, I hate to be the girl who gets in the elevator looking like she got dressed in her little sister's closet. As a petite person that often gets mistaken for a high schooler (I'm 24 people!) that adds a whole new set of challenges to creating what I call my "big girl" wardrobe (don't judge).

My previous job had almost no dress code so when I started my job back in December I didn't have much to work with. As a Texan, shopping for a winter wardrobe is a daunting task (we don't have fall, just summer and "winter") and I often end up with a bunch of blah basics. Pwomp. If you pay an ounce of attention to fashion trends you know that midi skirts are everywhere right now as are pleats. BUT for whatever reason it has been impossible for me to find a pleated skirt that's the right length, and in a color that I can actually wear, and that I can afford. Phew! Just as I was feeling hopeless Shop Ruche came to my rescue and this little beauty showed up. Can we say love? I'm snatching it up tomorrow (pay day!) and I already know it will be a worthwhile investment. I can't wait to see what kind of outfits I can come up with using this skirt. My next mission? The perfect blazer. I don't care if it's still 106 degrees, dreaming of "fall" is what keeps me going.