Oh, its good to be back!

Mom and I went to the nail salon! We're both nail traditionalists, clearly. My toes are Jungle Disco (yep, there's glitter in there) which is probably the best name ever. Both our nails are shellac Wildfire. Love!

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Luau of this, Luau of that

Luau tonight means flowered ankles and bitch'n wooden wedges! Gotta love summer "fashion".

Now for my fresh salsa and ribs...

It's a rib contest/cook-off/iron chef. Morgan is going with an understated dry rub. I'm making a classic, fresh (and organic salsa) salsa with black bean chips.

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A Zebra By Any Other Name...

This a little out of character.. ok, a lot out of character. I had a rough day and a coupon. Sue me. I figure it'll be fun for a week or so.

Finger nails are back to my signature 'Barefoot in Barcelona' after being (gasp!) totally natural and bare for a week or so.

... I deeply prefer leopard print to zebra.. maybe next time? Ha!

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Individual Pieces of Life Gold

New glitter pedicure! Now glitter is usually something I would never do, as I prefer the classic nail styles. However, cash is tight so I'm doing my nails at home and I had some of this gold glitter polish by 'Nicole by OPI' at home from a past Halloween costume... plus its summer! What the hell!

The name is 'Twist of Fate'. It must be from a theme collection where that made sense. So let's play.. better ideas?

Glitter Bombing

First Place Fierce (get it, first place is gold... yeah it was a stretch)

aaaand, my personal favorite...

Golden Glitter Goddess

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Prada Madra Mine..ra?

I'm in love and it should come as no surprise it's with a handbag. I give you, from their Spring Summer 2011 collection, The Prada Madra bag.

She is beaut at roughly $2,000 U.S. dollars. I don't think I'll be finding this at TJ Maxx anytime soon.

Here it is with Jessica Alba and Uma Thurman. Lovely!

Pictures via Telegraph

Green Thumb Manicures

Check out our cucumber plant! I never pictured myself as a gardner, but I'm loving it. Further updates and shots of our patio make-over coming!

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Leave the Columns to the Greeks.

Michelle and the other guy (I kid, I kid) greet German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her husband for the State Dinner. Mrs. O is in a Naeem Khan gown.

She was widely praised for this choice, but I'm not so sure. Color is great and the her hair looks great. The shape... or should I say, lack-of? Not so great. Then again regardless of the body I'm never a real fan of square necklines and wide shoulder straps (without sleeves).

Even though the gown has a clear A-Line shape, the bulky top makes it look like a column dress to me. The beading only makes it look heavier.

All of that said, I would still kill to wear it any day of week. Rock on Mrs. O.

Pool Again, Pool Again

Check out my awesome new beach hat! I broke it in last week at Pensacola Beach... this week we are at the less exciting apartment complex pool. I found it for (drumroll....) $6! Thanks Shopko!

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I'm Redy.

Hair: Aveda
Nails: Shellac's Hollywood
Lips: Rimmel Rouge

Red is sorta my new thing. Firey? Feisty? You bettcha.

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Never Break the Chain (that I'm wearing as a necklace)

HuffPo Style recently posted a Stevie Nick's fashion timeline. I'm obsessed - Although the 80s still make me cringe. Additionally, why does the woman have to wear SO MUCH black?! What happened?

Michelle, Ralph and Tom

I am not unaware that my Michelle Obama fashion watch is bordering on obsessive. I excitedly await my invitation to comment on the "First Lady of Style" coffee table book that is inevitably coming. Shelly KILLED IT this week.

Here she is in Tom Ford. Only complaint is to maybe stand up a bit straighter, because the dress and gloves are ON.

Here she is in Ralph Lauren. Having a smoking hot first lady is enough to make me yell "USA! USA! USA!" and mean it.

Ralph Lauren on the runway.

This is a look of satisfaction that only comes from knowing how awesome you look.

Time Feels Melty

I found something I simply must have. Check out these AWESOME clocks by Pragmatic Effects on Etsy.com.

See my wall:

See the clock:

Imagine, if you will, the awesome red melty clock replacing the craptastic standard living room clock in picture one. It's a must have, right? It's a steal at $50!

...yes, I'm watching Top Chef. So sue me.

Missoni? Bullseye!

Target has announced their new designer collaboration: Missoni. Neat! This collaboration will feature more than just women's clothing. It includes kids, baby, home, men's and accessories. Neat! I use the word neat because while I'm excited for this, Missoni has never made me faint (not that I could afford it). So maybe that it's a financial option, I'll faint?

If I can get this...

(summer 2011)

or this:

(pre-collection Spring)

... for $27.99 I'll be happy.

In all seriousness though, I love that Target partners with high-end designers. It also speaks volumes for the designer who do it. Kudos.

[Photos via http://missoni.com/]

I want Michelle Obama to teach me how to Dougie.

Heres the first lady in a Gaultier top hosting another dance party. LOVE HER. This dance party was to kick off a wellness program for military families. This new dance party trend is one I can totally get behind.
[Photo via HuffPo Style]

Fake Redheads Must Stick Together

Here is Christina Hendricks in Carolina Herrera. It may or may not be a mess, but ya' know what? I LOVE-HURR.

Is it the most flattering? No. Is it the best color? No. Best shape? No. Is it what she wanted to wear? Fuck yeah.

People have a lot of opinions about what Christina Hendricks should wear. Why? Because she has a stunning body that happens to (gasp!) include breasts. Leave the lady alone. So she doesn't wear the standard curvy girl a-line for every red carpet. Goddess bless her.

Girl. Strut It.

She saw red

I dyed my hair red! Two things:
1.) After dying your hair black, its very challenging to make it unblack.
2.) If you're ever in Lincoln Nebraska, please go see Jami at Posh Salon!

It's much lighter than the pictures portray, but hey, it'll have to do.

I will spend my entire life trying to "Mirren" this Helen

Holy Buckets. Check out Dame Mirren.

As if I wasn't obsessed with Helen Mirren enough. In all seriousness, I ADORE her. Here she is at the European premier of 'Arther' in Dolce and Gabbana. First, I love the D&G attitude. Second, leather jacket over leopard print?! Girl, you had me at leather. I would steal this look in a minute and only pull it off half as well at half her age.

Helen, you get down with your bad self.

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Marchesa goes to the grotto.

Apparently they're opening a Playboy Club in London. To celebrate Marchesa is doing a quick take on the iconic uniform. Here is what they had to say:

"Marchesa is thrilled to be a part of the Playboy London Club launch, and for the opportunity to design a one off Playboy Bunny costume - one of fashion and pop culture's most iconic emblems, in celebration of the return of this club," says Georgina Chapman, co-founder and designer of the luxury label. "We've taken our inspiration from the original costume but added Marchesa's signature details, such as hand draping and embroidery, while staying true to the Playboy Bunny's classic corset silhouette. The result is a modern, yet feminine interpretation of this legendary look."

You can't see much from the sketch. I adore Marchesa so I'm not super excited about this. Let me explain... Playboy feels... well, cheap. I get that they have the Vegas suites and that the clubs are exclusive, but there is no getting around where they really make their money. I'm not knocking those folks, that's their style choice, but it is inline with the Marchesa esthetic? No. I think of crotchless bodysuits when I think of Playboy (which clearly have a time and place) and romantic and whimsical gowns when I think of Marchesa. This? Does not compute.

The part I find funny? They're auctioning it off for breast cancer. Playboy remains loyal to it's pro-boob position.

[source: Fashionista]

Oscar de la Renta had a garden wedding

..and it was beautiful! As a recently married lady I still have a twinge of the wedding obsession, and let's face it, I have never not loved gowns and romance. This collection was MADE FOR ME. Everything is ethereal, romantic, and light. Young love just seeps out of every piece. This is was weddings should be. A simple lovely celebration of love.. and flowers.

I'm bias, having been a Spring bride, but the Spring flowers and colors just make my heart melt. I adore when Spring isn't equated with terrible pastels but with lovely natural colors and tones that actually join us in the Spring months.

Enough talk, here are my top three:




Here a few more.. want to see it all? You can check it out on Tom and Lorenzo [also, my photo source]

A Little Bit of Chicken Fried

Tonight I was reminded of an evening I spent with my mother at the Holiday Inn in Lexington Kentucky. We were road tripping my from (past) sublet condo in Williamsburg Virginia back home to Nebraska. We arrived in Lexington the evening of July 3rd and hit the downtown area right after the 4th of July parade ended. After 12 hours of driving followed by wandering around and eating some (amazing) BBQ, at what we discovered was probably the one lesbian bar/restaurant in downtown Lexington, we were more than ready to go to the hotel. Being of the same linage we were both drawn to the hotel bar for a few drinks before hitting the sack. What we discovered was epic. A local and quite authentic blue grass band! The majority of patrons in the bar were clearly family and friends. The bartender was adorable and not so into the blue grass. The whole experience was so... Kentucky. The following day we drove through the Kentucky countryside to Louisville and toured Churhill Downs, the home of the Kentucky Derby.


Why does this merit a blog post you ask? This random unimpressive yet lovely memory got me thinking. Through my professional and academic associations I befriend and work with some very well-traveled folks. Outside of Canada and Mexico I have never traveled extensively outside of U.S. states or territories. I have never really have the money. I travel on the cheap. Regularly I hear about very impressive international travels, and don't get this post wrong, I don't mean to diminish those trips. Someday I hope to travel to remote and famous international locations. That said, I have explored the U.S. somewhat extensively and largely by road trip. And. It. Has. Been. Awesome.

Getting to know my people, my citizens, and my (forgive the cliche) fellow Americans has been an experience all its own. I've gone from Manhattan to San Fransisco...


I've had a meaningful experiences visiting every Navy base my father was stationed in Puerto Rico and Norfolk Virginia...



...the Wisconsin state fair in Milwaukee, South Beach in Miami and Key West with my best girlfriend...


The Mall of America in Minneapolis, plenty of quick trips to Denver and Red Rocks, a few whirlwinds in Las Vegas, Snowy Range Wyoming and beyond...



The upshot? I love this country. The diversity of people and personality you can get without a passport never fails to amaze me. What does that have to do the "Chicken Fried" title you ask? Living in middle America gives me this gift. I can be in the south or west or close to a cost in 13 hours via car. People under estimate the value of the road trip and the value of the Midwestern locale... and our propensity of "chicken frying" everything.

This May I head to Alabama with my best friend. We plan on taking several civil rights tours and attending a hot air balloon race. While this isn't Paris, having an understanding of our American heritage is invaluable to me. My connection to this land and my country is undeniable - and yes this is coming from a liberal feminist.

Bitch Stole My Look

Look, I'm happy for Kate and William, really I am. Good for them. But now Lifetime is hocking knock-offs of her Sapphire engagement ring. Why is this a problem you ask? This is why:
Her Ring:

Side profile of my grandmother's (now my) ring on my wedding day:

Better (albeit less pretty) shot of my ring, on my left hand because my wedding ring was being repaired:


Bitch stole my look.

I don't mind sharing a look. What I'm bothered by are all the "Be like Kate!" knock-offs... and the sort of people who buy them. I would prefer to not be lumped in. This sentiment is catty, but mine is a natural real sapphire surrounded by natural real diamonds... not ordered from Lifetime for $29.99. Hrumph.

So, do I ditch my faithful right hand ring until the royal wedding blows over?