At this very moment, sitting in my bedroom, I have a cigarette hanging out of my mouth.
My cat Oscar sits on my window sill.
In a weird way, this is a perfect way to end a long day.
I have been working a lot. My soul is tired and if I hear the word Medicare one more time I think I might scream.
The only thing I can think of is to blog about someone, anyone, that is living the life they dreamed. Ok, not always the live they dreamed but one that they created; one they can feel proud of because it has been spent in pursuit of things of beauty - even in drudgery.
This is why this is dedicated to a photographer named Collin LaFlece.
Let me begin by saying Colin was born in 1987. His resume is chock full of amazing exhibits that I can only dream of attending. A graduate of NYU, he has developed an incredible body of work that has captured the human condition - with a smatering of the human spirit. By smatering, I mean all of it.
The thing about photography is that is captures a human in their true form. Of course I omit from this catagorey Glamour Shots, portrait prints and anything that involves the phrase "cheese".
So introducing Collin LaFleche. I WILL have your work on my wall.
most images were found at his blog and .... his real website
His new website should by up late October.
Appropriately... I am listening too....
Here is one of my own sad photographs. God knows I love the Grandin....
I have been working out more than before. By working out I mean going to the gym and trying to use the machines. I clumsily stalk around Gold Gym trying to look like I know what I am doing in Electric Blue Nikes. The other morning when doing some weird arm bicycle thing this came on "my pod" ....
When the beat started to pick up so did my arm peddling (how silly) and before I knew it I was bobbing and weaving to the beat. It made my arm "workout" more bearable until I realized that I was making a scene and I think the gentleman who was actually trying to burn calories thought I was having a seizure.
To make a long story short this is now a work out staple. The video also appeals to my rampant OCD.
lights.on.lights.off.lights.on.lights.off. Right angles.
When it comes to sleepwear I am in a style rut. The prospect of putting on anything but the usual black leggings and white deep V neck for bed is daunting to me. Now I know that sleepwear for most is the LAST priority but I really want to feel glamorous YET comfortable when sleeping. I know that wanting to feel anything while sleeping aside from warm and safe is the epitome of indulgent behavior but hey, what can I saw... I am a jerk like that.
I know that I am NOT the type to saunter over to my local Victoria's Secret and pick out a frock that will not only require me to tug and pull on it all night but also only look good on Adriana Lima. When I started this quest for chic sleepwear that will actually ALLOW me to sleep I felt like I was fighting an uphill battle. Everywhere I looked - on the internet or my local mall, I came across the same genre impasse; comfy cozy frumpy or slinky sleazy crotchless (ok so that is a little dramatic). I would still be at the crossroads of confusion today if ONE inspiration had not entered my life.... BOARDWALK EMPIRE on HBO about Atlantic City during the 1920's.
Now before I go all prohibition on your ass I can explain my love for the show in three words - The. Wardrobe. Rocks. (and Steve Buscemi & crazy Paz de la Herta but this does not fall into my three word theme... hence the parenthesis). I know by using the word rocks detracts from the very point I am trying to make - that the 20's had the most beautiful and artfully done clothing, but it was the only word that came to mind... where is my Thesaurus? Not only are the dresses amazing, but the headwear, shoes and undergarmets. This show introduced me to something called "Step Ins" and romper style undergarmet that every woman during the time wore. Now I am not about to wear a romper to bed, as I toss and turn an incredible amount and I forsee myself choking to death in the spaghetti straps but it did give me an idea...
Vintage Slips as sleep wear.
The best source I have found for this is Etsy - more specifically Dancing Girl Press and Studio Shop . She has a beautiful collection of vintage slips and I plan on purchasing at least 2 in order to have sweet and stylish dreams.
I included below a visual aid in order to show you before/after... simplistic yet it gets the point across right? Plus, fashion "math" is the only math I know.
(boooooring is missing it's g.... thanks publisher.) So there you go. Kait + Beer = Done.
Alert... my new obsession .. Gretchen Jones from Project Runway. Not only is the painfully hip, awesomely indie and incredibly beautiful but my husbands loves to refer to her as Saint Vincent. I know there was something I loved about her that I simply could not put my finger on.
Reasons why I love Gretchen:
1. She is from Portland, OR ( When Tim Gunn visited her there I was so impressed with the limited shots they gave us of the city. It looks so amazing and I would LOVE to visit.)
2. Her designs are incredible (more about that later)
3. She listens to sweet tunes (She lists Yeasayer among her favorites)
4. She is not afraid to speak her mind.
5. I want her hair cut: ---------------------------------> 6. She exudes casual cool. 7. She only uses natural fabrics.
8. She pulls inspiration from the Southwest. Throughout Project Runway she has the most amazing jewelry. It reminds me of our trip to Santa Fe. I picked up some amazing pieces there. Too bad I was only 14 and did not appreciate them as much as I do now.
The great thing about this.......
SHE HAS HER OWN CLOTHING LINE. Is is called MothLove and stalk that site everyday looking for something, anything that might go on sale.
My favorite thing on the site right now for Spring 2010 (I know..late)- as impractical as it is... a silk body suit.
Yes, a body suit....
So please, pop on over to MothLove and make certain to check out the ML Loves Section. It is chock full of great music and designers that inspire Miss Jones.
UPDATE: Stalking around the site I found that she has recently posted her Fall/Winter 2010 line. Here are some of my favorites. I think I am in love... again.
I am back to where I was months ago... confused, displeased and overwhelmingly lost. After some issues surrounding personal relationships, a lackluster feeling surrounding my job and a messy apartment (really?!?!) I have come to the conclusion I need to stop waiting to become the person I want to be... and do it. Unlike every other time I have tried this and given up, yes this time I THINK I have a refreshing outlook on it. Instead of doing everything at once, I am taking it a small step at a time. I have been listening to a lot Brooklyn Rider lately. They are an amazing string quartet and I realized that my life is like one of their practice sessions. They all have their own beautifully haunting part. I am certain if one person is absent because of illness of a family emergency (do those even happen in hip string bands?) they still practice, they still create and they don't stop dead in their tracks because ONE piece of who they are is not there.
This takes me to another point... who the hell am I? Who do I want to become? Am I already that person? Whose expectations and I trying to live up to. Honestly, I know that a large part of this who issue is that I am not happy with the way I have "forsaken " (so dramatic I know...) who I WAS. I was a painter, a writer, a photographer, a designer, and a musician... now I am a sales person. The reality though is that this is part of being a grownup ... I think the embrace that as a reality. Instead of focusing on how to grow those talents outside of work I have become lazy. I have EVEN let myself get fat (GASP).
What is my next step? Work on each part of my masterpiece - one at a time. Right now, I am cleaning out my apartment. Next step, sell off or give away all the crap I don't need. Third, redecorate - use some of my creativity to make my living space a work of art and then third... take a painting and writing class. While this won't "solve my issue" I think it will allow me to feel like I am gaining some headway. Look, my job is my job right? It pays the bills, I get SOME satisfaction out of it and I can't complain about the commission I make. Instead though of letting it define me I will use the resources it provides me with (i.e. money and a somewhat flexible schedule after December 31st) to define myself.
So.... what were my steps again?
1. De clutter my life. 2. Redecorate my living space. 3. Reinvigorate my zeal for painting and writing with a couple community college classes.
Side Note: I realized I became so obsessed with going back to grad school and WHAT would be practical to study that I forgot that I actually needed to enjoy SOME of it to get through 2 - 3 years of hard studying. I am not going to take that step until I figure out what the heck I am going to want to do with my life.
Now... some beautiful music that I am listening to whilst cleaning my place....
