Friday Favorites

I'm slightly obsessed with fashion. I have reached the point that I even watch biographies on famous designers lives despite having to read the English subtitles because the film is French. Also, since I work at a magazine publishing company (cough, SL, cough), I have felt the need to step-it-up in the fashion department. For my first installment of Friday Favorites, I'm being predictable with Fashion Friday Favorites.

Image compliments of mybrokentypewriter.blogspot.com

Frye boots...aren't they wonderful?!?! I'm obsessed. I really have a hard time choosing my favorite style. This style comes closest to the top of my list. Since I couldn't afford real Frye, I purchased a knockoff pair at Target. I wore them the first day of fall, even though my car thermometer read ninety degrees. You can find the knockoff version here. Or the real ones here.

Photo courtesy of jcrew.com

Kelly McBride and Emily King, if you read this, I will ALWAYS rock a skinny belt. In a mustard tone. This belt is already in my closet. Granted, I have the matte version rather than the shiny. You can get this belt here.

Photo from jcrew.com

Luxe. I have a similar headband from Target, but this one from J. Crew is equally delicious. Maybe my headband addiction is related to the huge bows I wore the first ten (gasp, yes TEN) years of my life.

Watch this film. Coco Chanel is one of my fashion inspirations. We're not talking the tacky Chanel bags with the faux quiliting and white intertwined C's. This is the real deal. The lady who shed the corset in favor of tailored jersey knit. Revoluntary.
Note: Her life is graphic. She was a mistress to high powered men. She was French. Cut her a break - she was creative genius.

Now a list, just because I LOVE lists:

in no particular order

Monogramed sweatshirts

Pearl earrings

Patterned tights

FLATS

David Yurman jewelry

Merona Brand trouser jeans

Jewelry pilfered from Gran's jewelry box (call it vintage with character)

Chambray dresses

Anthropologie

What are your favorites? Please share. I always love trying new things that I can add to my list.

creative vs. crazy

Photo courtesy of Google images

To say I have interviewed a lot is an understatement. I once did TEN interviews in TWO weeks. Between pageants, scholarship interviews and internship interviews, I have probably completed fifty or more face-to-face “chats.” Interviewers LOVE to describe an interview as “oh, we’ll just spend the next thirty to 45 minutes chatting.” Hmmm, chatting is what I do with girlfriends while shopping, NOT what I do in full business suit regalia (hose, black heels, knee length skirt, jacket, full pearls—the works).

Recently, I really was just “chatting” with a friend. We were sharing war stories about the interview process. I explained to her that I felt I can recite the answers to, “Tell me about yourself” and “Why did you choose accounting” in my sleep. Then we complained about our least favorite question, “Give me three adjectives that you feel describes you.” CRINGE.

Here’s my answer:

I feel the best way to explain myself is through the MOP acronym. Actually, MOP has a dual purpose—both an analogy and an acronym. First, I feel I have personality traits similar to a MOP.

A MOP stands in the closet readily waiting for a task.
A MOP can quickly clean a spill without leaving residue.
A MOP is cleaned, and then stands ready again for a new task.

This leads to why I feel MOP is an accurate description of me.

I am:

Motivated
Organized
Precise

All of these traits relate to my work ethic. I am always willing to try any new task and I remain motivated to do my best work. I have a plan of action for each day that allows me to quickly complete my work. I pay attention to detail and try to complete the job right the first time.

Here I thought I found a perfectly witty way to revive a boring question/answer. Well, I did not receive rave reviews from my friend, so now I am re-evaluating. Maybe a MOP is not the best analogy/acronym.

Here is my new way to describe my self. (Warning—way beyond the three word limit)

Diet coke addict
Punctual procrastinator (think that one through)
Snail mail fan
Headband hoarder
Fearful flyer
List maker
Avid reader
Closet crafter

I tried for symmetry in alliteration. I failed. Since MOP seems to flop (mop/flop, he he) and I’m not sure expressing my addictions and idiosyncrasies at the initial meeting will do the trick, I am back to the drawing board.

Well, Bless your Heart

Want crazy insight to my brain? Here it is.

Well I’ve been saved by the grace of Southern charm

I got a mouth like a sailor and yours is more like a Hallmark card

And if you wanna pick a fight, Well I’m gonna have to say goodnight

I don’t have to be hateful, I can just say bless your heart

And even though I don’t belong with your high life friends

It doesn’t mean we don’t get together and try to make amends

It’s easier can’t you see, Let’s agree to just disagree

We don’t have to like each other but it’s sure fun to pretend

So let’s shake hands and reach across those party lines

You’ve got your friends just like I’ve got mine

We might think a little differently, But we got a lot in common you will see

We’re just like you

Only prettier

Everybody says you’ve gotta know your enemies

Even if they only weigh a hundred pounds and stand five foot three

If you just smile and behave you can always get your way

It’s a universal plan that’ll get you where you can in all societies

So let’s shake hands and reach across those party lines

You’ve got your friends just like I’ve got mine

We might think a little differently, But we got a lot in common you will see

We’re just like you

Only prettier

Let’s shake hands and reach across those party lines

You’ve got your friends just like I’ve got mine

We might think a little differently, But we got a lot in common you will see

We’re just like you

Only prettier

Well, I’ll keep drinkin’ and you’ll keep gettin’ skinnier

I’m just like you

Only prettier

Yep, Miranda Lambert, you've done it again. You say exactly what we're all thinking but don't say aloud. We all want to be Blanche Devereaux or Scarlet O., but we can't help to be Aunt Bee or Dixie Carter (you know you still watch Designing Women re-runs)...

Bill O'Reilly

Disclaimer: I am NOT a political analyst

Bill O’Reilly is one of my favorite television personalities. He cuts to the point with dry humor. My dad watches him every night and I sit right there with him. Riveted. Yesterday night was no exception.

If I had time, I would probably be a daytime TV junkie. Alas, I am always at school, work or the library during the airing time for shows like The View. Every blue moon I catch a few minutes of the five women sharing their over-rated opinions (can you tell my opinion?) on headlines and interviewing various popular people-of-the-moment. If you are like I am and aren’t sure of who the cast members are, then check this out. http://theview.abc.go.com/

Here is my synopsis of the situation. Bill O’Reilly remarks on Whoopi’s body language. Whoopi fires back she has gas. The topic shifts to politics. Bill blames Obama for the skew on the November elections. The topic shifts to the Muslim mosque controversy. Whoopi and Joy Behar are offended by Bill’s candid remark that Muslims killed us on 9/11. Chaos erupts. Whoopi and Joy Behar storm off the set. Barbara Walters chastises her co-hosts then tries to fix the situation. She persuades Bill to admit the Muslims were extremists. Drama comes to an end. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25uyFwWPOZg


Whew, a lot happened in the twenty minute clip. Normally I would shoot the breeze talking about this with dad or my grandparents, but after thinking about it over-night, I am still blown away. Why, you may ask? Whoopi and Joy Behar were offended that Bill O’Reilly made the comment that Muslims killed us on 9/11. They defended the building of the mosque near the 9/11 memorial. I am an advocate for the freedom of religion AND I concede that extremists were to blame. BUT, these women obviously did not think before speaking (I am guilty of the same crime, often, a lot, okay—daily). I think the problem with the mosque is not a slur against Islam. It is more about the families and city that experienced the tragedy of 9/11. The fatalities of 9/11 were not soldiers. These people kissed their spouses and children good-bye, stopped for Starbucks, sprinted the stairs, checked their email, then died sitting at their desk. Extremists or not, the mosque is a painful reminder for the families of these individuals.

I do not live in New York or a Muslim-dominated country. I can’t say that next week the mosque issue will even cross my mind. But I did attend a Christian university where I took an Intercultural class. Ironically, these women defended a religion that in many sects would not afford them the privilege of wearing the clothes they do or speaking in public as a TV host. Not all sects of Islam are the same or are extremists. But they exist, just as Christian extremists do. To me, this issue is tough. Would we allow a memorial or house of worship of an affiliate next to the abortion clinic bombed by Christian extremists? Nope. These individuals were extremists, but what they did was wrong.

Personally I wish we could ship Whoopi and Joy to North Africa or the Middle East where Muslim extremists are in political rule. They would look lovely in a burquaa.

Life

I must admit that my blog updating was lacking over the past six months. So, here is the short version of the past few months:

I’m getting married—June 25, 2011, so Save the Date
I graduated college
I started grad school
I started a new job

Basically, those four events have consumed my life to the point that I barely have time to sleep, eat, breath—you know, the necessities of life. In all the chaos of the moment, life becomes surreal. Have you ever seen movies where the main character is moving super slow while the world moves in hyper-speed around him or her? Yep, best way to explain my life right now.

Now that my Debby Downer moment is over, it’s time for the good stuff.

MARRIAGE
I’m one of the rare, extremely lucky people who found love early in life. I was obsessed with danceline hoping it would offset my math team nerdiness. He was the cool basketball/golf playing worship band member at my church. Funny thing is, he drove me nuts in middle school. Now eight years, many fights and many reconciliations later, we’re getting married. Sigh, Hope-less Chest is officially a HOPE Chest. And my vintage Pyrex can now be used to bake brownies for Sunday School parties. And I can register for china. All that and marry the love of my life. I’M IN!!!

GRAD SCHOOL
Yikes. That is all.

JOB
I basically have the coolest job ever. I have finally found the perfect blend of accounting and creativity, but not in an Enron accounting scandal kind of way. I work for a magazine publishing company. AMAZING. LOVE IT. My family members need to be prepared; you’re all getting magazine subscriptions for Christmas, birthdays, etc. over the next year.