Tattoo Tues...I mean Wednesday!

As most holiday celebrations in Bryan/College Station would have it, cocktail attire was not actually worn to the Christmas cocktail party we attended last Monday night. I wore a denim skirt and a black top, but with these shoes....

When in doubt, I just wear statement shoes to an event. It seems to always work regardless of the formality level. These Charles Davids did just that.

Bella Bawk suspiciously eying my project

While Tallulah avoids confrontation entirely.

 

 

 

Since we gave Tuesday a miss, we'll move Fashionably Inked right on to today!

I love the delicacy and movement found in this design. The execution is youthful without any hint of immaturity, which I think will allow it to remain timeless.

Tomorrow evening, B and I will be traveling to Denton, and my schedule has "hold new nephew, Baby Caden, and coo and talk baby talk for a very long time" permanently inked into it. I'll do my best to stop by for Fashion Forum Friday, though.

Off to wrap more presents!

Oh yeah, the blog...

Thus far today has been a lazy one filled with catching up on sleep and a bit of exercise. Not being in my office and not anxiously awaiting the next student, whose life he or she will be convinced I am trying to destroy, has consequently led to blog neglectfulness. The next three weeks may continue on in this sporadic manner, as I'll be in Denton enjoying Christmas vacation with family. I'll do my best to keep you notified of any ground breaking fashion news, though.

In the mean time, can we discuss how wonderful my blog looks thanks to the design genius of Ms. Rachel Lacy? I am so pleased with the results of our collaboration, and by "collaboration", I mean Rachel translating my listless ramblings on personal blog aesthetics and turning them into something fantastic.

Thanks, Rachel!

I am off now to prepare for what may be the only Christmas party B and I will attend this year that requires cocktail attire. Should this be the case, I'll get some pics for your viewing pleasure and post them tomorrow.

Fashion Forum Friday: Audience Participation Day!

 Yesterday, I was flipping through this month's Vogue and stumbled upon a pic of this dress in bright orange.

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Why do I not own this? What hurts my heart most about not being able to acquire this dress is that it is available via H&M. Alber Elbaz of Lanvin has created this dramatic confection for the illustrious yet elusive chain, and....none exist in Bryan/College Station or Houston (sniff sniff).

My first meeting with H&M occurred the summer of 2001 when I was visiting Berlin. My friend Neysa and I decided it stood for Hoch & Moeglichkeit, which would literally translate as High & Possibility, and I think that is appropriate still.

Cut to the summer of 2006, and one would find me in NYC ransacking the 5th Avenue location.

Alas, the closest H&M appears to be in Atlanta, which is entirely irrational as far as I'm concerned.

Your assignment for today, faithful readers, is to let us all know what you are excited to wear (or wish you could wear) to a holiday party.

Gute Wochenende mit viel Hoch & Moeglichkeit!

Kimberly's Adventures in Burning Floors.

Mrs. Kimberly Wolfe is back from Tuesday night's production of Burn the Floor at the Hobby Center in Houston, and she brings along an arsenal of reasons why you should promptly acquire tickets to one of this weekend's performances. The costume descriptions are reason enough for me...

Shoes & Tattoos is elated to present (elongated drum roll meant to build anticipation).....(it's still rolling)......

Kimberly's Review!

 (At this point, readers are meant to stop reading in my voice and should, in fact, start reading in Kimberly's voice. If you are not entirely certain what our voices sound like, we grant temporary permission to feign two different female affectations. In the future, though, please have appropriate research prepared on Sarabeth vs. Kimberly accent, diction, and intonation.)

"I now know why the performance is called Burn the Floor—it's because the dancers are on fire! Upon leaving the theater, my first words to my friend who accompanied me were, 'That just makes me want to shake my bootie.' Everything about the show—the choreography, the precision, the music, the costumes—was remarkably impressive, and the dancers kept the audiences engaged with their fiery performances. A full percussion section and drum set on stage added to the dynamics.


My two favorite dances were the Samba from Act I and the Waltz/Tango/Paso Doble/Rumbo near the end of Act II. For the samba, the ladies wore the most incredible combination of encrusted jewels and flowing fringe that I have ever seen.

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The picture shows the costume, but in the performance I saw, the entire brazier portion of the costume was covered in enormous jewels, sending light beams all the way beyond the back row of the theater. The long fringe of the costume moved with the ladies and they shook, shimmied, and spun across the stage. Like many dance costumes, it was cut extremely low in the back, which allowed for a hula skirt effect to take place with the slightest move of the bootie. The dancer in the picture, Giselle Peacock, is an incredible performer. She combined extreme energy with precise body control and I couldn't take my eyes off her, nor could I stop wishing she'd meet me afterwards to teach me some moves.

In the second act, a couple came out and began waltzing to Cher's "After All." I must admit, I began to roll my eyes, thinking it would be cheesy, but then, THEN, a screen was lowered, the dancers moved to the side of the stage, and as they danced back to the center, their graceful image was mirrored on the other side of the screen. But it wasn't an image at all! It was a separate couple performing in perfect synchronicity as they mirrored the performance of the original two dancers. It was absolutely beautiful. The number progressed with other dancers, and incorporated more modern dances.

The vocalists, including Peter Saul, Vonzell Solomon, and Mr. Hot Stepper himself Mark Ballas, were remarkable as well. Thank you Sarabeth for such a wonderful evening!"

(Now initiating Sarabeth voice)

Thank you, Kimberly, for providing such an engaging review! And many thanks to Art Meets Council of Houston for providing me with a pair of tickets to bestow upon one of my many fashion forward readers!

If you would like to get your very own, visit http://www.burnthefloor.com/houston.php because more performances will be going on now through December 19th!

Fashionably Inked: Tattoo Tuesday

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I tend to gravitate toward tattoos with vivid colors, but every time I run across this image, my normal thirst for color is more than quenched by the amazing details involved. This design is anything but static; one can almost feel a breeze pass upon initial viewing.

This girl is a trooper because that was one long and painful sitting she endured!

Fashioned for Faithfulness: Special Monday Edition

All I can say is, "God is good."

My sister, Juliana, went into labor at roughly 7:30am this past Friday. By 3pm B and I were leaving work and packing up for a fast trip to Denton.

I had more or less resigned myself to the assumption that I would not be present to witness my newest nephew's first moments of life outside of his mommy. But God took care of all that, and I got to see this little miracle's very first breath:

Caden Michael Schul was born at approximately 11:50pm on 12/10/10.

One more miraculous piece of evidence that God is the ultimate fashion genius.

Burn the Floor Contest: Part 2 (There's Still A Prize!)

Hello Again!

As it turns out, both Theresa and Charity have scheduling conflicts and will not be able to attend the performance coming up this Tuesday.

So....the contest is reinstated!

The fist person to comment on this blog entry telling me what he or she is excited to wear this weekend will win two tickets to the opening night of Burn the Floor on Dec. 14th at 7:30pm at the Hobby Center in Houston, TX.

Hurry up if you want to go!

http://www.burnthefloor.com/houston.php

How Did I Get Tickets to Burn The Floor...

I'm so glad you asked! Ms. Rachel Lacy, of http://www.followinginmyshoes.com/, put me in contact with Art Meets Commerce of Houston, Tx. They generously offered to provide tickets for a lucky reader of my choosing for the opening night of Burn the Floor direct from Broadway.

Because Ms. Theresa Brooks was the first to describe her fashion forward outfit designated for this weekend in my previous post, she gets to attend opening night!

I wish I had tickets to give to everyone, but you can still reserve your own at http://www.burnthefloor.com/houston.php. And you certainly should because you wouldn't want to miss out on an opportunity to see Mark Ballas from Dancing with the Stars and many more from So You Think You Can Dance! GO GET SOME TICKETS!

The show will be running from December 14th through the 19th.

Maybe we can solicite some details from Theresa next Wednesday after she gets back from the show.

I can't wait to view more of the costumes! Dancing fashion is some of the best fashion as far as I'm concerned.

Stay tuned....

Fashion Forum Friday: Clothes, Cupcakes, & A Contest (There's a prize!)

Happy Friday, everyone!

I wax joyful as we approach the last week before Christmas vacation!

I have a copious amount of pictures to share with you today, and therefore, I have decided to make this more of a picture entry and less of a "wordy" entry. Don't look so excited.

I also have a surprise for the first person in the B/CS/Houston area to tell me what they are excited about wearing today in the comment box below. See instructions at the bottom of this post.

First and foremost, I am a dork, and what's more, I am  impractical and don't learn from past shameful encounters. Regardless of last Friday's unfortunate incident, I remain hopelessly devoted to bringing my scads handful of readers breaking news and cutting edge media. My overall "look" for today is my Fashion Forum Friday submission:


Inner Dialogue: "How do you set this timer? Dang it!"




I'm too cool to look at the camera-Right Side




Still too cool to look at the camera and I don't care about things-Left Side

 Headband: Forever21
Blazer: Oxford & Regent
Shirt: The Gap
Skirt: American Eagle (it's ancient)
Leggings: Forever21
Boots: Nine West

So, per the usual schedule, tell me about what you are looking forward to wearing this weekend.

Fun Friday Edition:
 I made more cupcakes! I had a few girlfriends over last night to test them out, and I've not received any news that anyone is ill today...so that's good!

The recipe I used for the cupcakes and icing can be found at http://javacupcake.com/2010/01/white-velvet-raspberry/ and the recipe for the raspberry filling is at http://www.food.com/recipe/raspberry-cake-filling-152347.



The batter was actually pretty; almost luminescent




My first endeavor in making buttercream icing





Yum




My first endeavor in making raspberry filling. It was the easiest thing!




...and really made me wish I was making raspberry cobbler.




Getting ready to fill the cupcakes.




Cupcakes filled...in case you didn't notice.




Yeah, there's a bit of a learning curve...




...but icing helps in shrouding it!




Tah-dah!


Contest: Do you live near Houston or plan on being in the area this coming Tuesday, December 14th? Do you love dancing or live performances? Would you like tickets to this show http://www.burnthefloor.com/houston.php?

If so, you better hurry up and be the first to tell me what you're excited about wearing this weekend in the comment box below! I'll have tickets reserved for you at will call!

Fashioned for Faithfulness: Generosity, always in fashion

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2 Corinthians 4:6
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

As we enter a season designated as a time of giving, I find myself contemplating what generosity actually looks like. I'm not about to launch into a diatribe condemning materiel avarice induced by the commercialization of Christ's birth. It is good to give gifts, but I think we encounter a problem when we feel that the requisite for generosity has been fulfilled completely in doing so.

Why do we force ourselves and others to examine our collective motive more closely this time of year? Why do we stretch our pocket books but often not our hearts?

I think it is because generosity is often difficult. It requires sacrifice. Emphasis on "sacrifice". Sadly, I think we find monetary sacrifice less formidable than emotional sacrifice. I am the guiltiest so don't feel as though I'm placing anyone on trial.

So what does emotional sacrifice, or generosity, look like?

Perhaps it is suspending the judgment in which we live of others:
Luke 6:42
How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Perhaps it is sacrificing your time and giving your attention to someone else:
Hebrews 10:24-25
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Perhaps it is sacrificing the selfishness with which we often don't even realize we are living:
Philippians 2:3-4
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

We could claim that these are easy tasks, but let's face it, they're often more difficult than we would like to admit. All the more reason to rejoice in the perfect grace that covers us when we believe in Jesus Christ as Lord! But that saving grace does not exempt us from sacrifice. We attempt good deeds and selflessness as a result of being saved by the Lord, not in order to be saved by the Lord.

Let's take a few minutes to pray and consider how the Lord wants us to show generosity today. I'm sure it will look different for each individual, and yet, very much the same.

Fashionably Inked: Tattoo Tuesday

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If you still require proof that tattooing is a legitimate art form, well....here you go. This is elegant, and I love the location on her lower forearm. There is a school of thought shared amongst many traditionalists that the current trend in tattoo realism will leave customers dissatisfied in the future. They are concerned that the design will not stand the test of time as effectively as a traditional tattoo. I say, if you love it, then do it. A good artist will cement the integrity of the design, and if you have to get it touched up in the future...and we're talking years and years...so what? I've seen many traditional tattoos that are begging for a touch up.

So I'm not a pastry chef

I’ve always had an affinity for baking but never the time nor courage to attempt homemade recipes, save peanut butter cookies…but it’s not as if that is a particularly demanding culinary mêlée. B and I have been married for over a year now, though, and while it is clear that his epicurean energies are suited more for cooking, I believe it is time for me to master some form of edible art. Therefore, my baking ardor was refreshed this past week, as I made gooey chocolate drop cookies, the notorious Neiman Marcus (not the recipe found on their website) chocolate chip cookie, and sopapilla cheesecake (thanks, mom-in-law, for that idea!) all of which I took to the Maroon Weekly Christmas party this past Friday.


I find that rendering a baked good entirely from scratch is quite fulfilling (alright, alright…I did use crescent rolls in the cheesecake) and after receiving positive reviews from my fellow Maroon Weekly contributors, I set out this past Saturday to create the current most fashionable confection…the cupcake! Every time I watch Cupcake Wars there is some cute vintagey-looking girl whipping up cupcakes as fashionably appealing as her outfit. This is the culinary vocation for me!

As stated above, I’m not a pastry chef. I am a complete novice if not genuine ignoramus. Vast amounts of information regarding baking threaten to overwhelm me; therefore, my best strategy is to slowly learn basic recipes before attempting to get all fancy with personalized interpretations. Although, I will document my attempts at baking whenever the occasion arises, don’t anticipate any ground breaking revelations in the world of yeast and sugar….at least not quite yet.

So here you have it; my adventures in making red velvet cupcakes!

Recipe Used:
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
• 1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• 2 tablespoons red food coloring
• 1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
• 1 pound cream cheese, softened
• 2 sticks butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar

Sift the dry ingredients together.
Gently beat the remaining ingredients in a large bowl and then thoroughly mix in the dry.
Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.
Wait until entirely cooled to frost.

Personal tip: At first, I thought the icing was  bit too sweet and runny, BUT if you store the cupcakes in the fridge, they taste AMAZING after a few hours. Definitely chill once they're done.



I want one of those handy batter-squirter-into-cupcake-holder-thingys.




Preparing the icing: 1 lb. of cream cheese and 2 sticks of butter...so you know it's healthy.




Getting ready to ice the extremely RED cupcakes without a spatula for the first time ever!




Chopped walnuts come in handy to mask your icing learning curve.




They actually don't look horrible!




Yay!




Now I have an actual reason to wear the apron, which I convinced B that I just had to have a few months ago...

 

Merry Christmas month and happy baking from Bella Bawk Ba Gawk and Tallulah Poodle Minkyboodle! Don't judge my dogs' names; they're eclectic.

Fashion Forum Friday: "Can today get more embarrassing?" Edition

I readily welcome the conclusion of a week packed with personal awkwardness and embarrassing scenarios. Those of you who keep up with me on Facebook are already aware of the infamous “air burp at a student” encounter, which was immediately followed by the “display my slip for all of Blinn to see” fashion faux pas. It’s only 9:30 in the a.m., and I’m ready to pack it up and go home, for today shows no promise of improvement.


Feeling quite confident and ambitious, I decided to advise an unfortunate student before my proper intake of morning caffeine. Poor, poor soul. I listened to myself speak, appalled by the listless ramblings falling from my mouth. My inner dialogue screamed, “Shut up! SHUT UP!” but my weary brain rapidly pushed nonsensical phrases out into the open air. It. Was. Bad.

I ushered the unlucky student out of my office and set my mind to recompose my manner of discourse and countenance…by chugging approximately 2 gallons of coffee.

Feeling slightly improved, I decided the time was appropriate to compile media for today’s Fashion Forum Friday post. My excitement over the subject matter proved greater than normal, as I chose to wear my Fashion Forum ensemble to work. Alas, I had forgotten to have B take a picture this morning before departing for work. Determination and good intentions led to my next star-crossed meeting with mortification…

Before I narrate my attempts to produce a photo for today’s blog post, allow me to explain how one HVAC Blinn employee wandered into my office most unexpectedly.

Last night, I made an over abundance of cookies for tonight’s Maroon Weekly Christmas party using the notorious (due to an inauthentic urban myth) Neiman Marcus recipe.

Yum.

The recipe yielded roughly 90 (really really really delicious) cookies so both B and I took a bundle to work to share. I placed my bag of cookies in the Science Building break room, grabbed my much needed cup of coffee, and headed back down the hall to my office with complete resolve to obtain a picture of my outfit…at least the bottom half of my outfit.




I realize how insignificantly helpful this shot is.

  Imagine an academic advisor sitting in various awkward positions behind her desk with her smart phone angled down toward her feet. Got a good visual going? Well, now you know exactly what said HVAC Blinn employee witnessed as he entered my office to tell me how much he enjoyed the NM cookies. I didn’t even try to explain or recover any sense of respectability. At that point…it was what it was. HORRIFYING. I thanked him kindly and told him that I was very glad he had enjoyed one. We parted ways never having mentioned my bizarre behavior upon his entry.

There you have it, people, and that’s all I got. I achieved my goal, which was to find a vintage-style skirt/dress to pair with leggings and boho boots...

…not that you can see it very well. If I ever recover my sense of self-respect, I’ll post a better pic later on. For now, I think I’ll just keep my head down and try to make it through the day without any other mortifying run ins. Although, I still have the Maroon Weekly party to attend, tonight, so plenty of time for more social awkwardness is at my disposal.

What are you looking forward to wearing this weekend? Also, do you have any embarrassing stories to relate out of commiseration and solidarity?

Bon Weekend!

Fashioned for Faithfulness

stress...stress...STRESS!!!

Back when I worked in merchandising at Tiffany & Co., the end of November and beginning of December initiated a baleful long haul into March (that's when alterations and returns of Christmas/Valentines Day gifts would begin to taper off). For lack of a more sophisticated word, it sucked. I spent more time with co-workers and thankless customers than my family, and I pined for the days of my undergraduate studies when my schedule actually promised a respite during the holidays.

Enter: Job as an academic advisor. Yay! In less than three weeks, I will be starting down the long end of a three week vacation!

So why the stress?

I have purchased approximately two Christmas gifts, and based on previous calculations, that should leave me with only about 537 more to go....

And, as many have experienced, my household income may have amounted to less during my single days, but I had A LOT more money!

Hence, today's motivational Bible passage:

Matthew 6: 25-29
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you?"

Modern day translation: God has it all in his capable hands. In the wise words of my mother-in-law, Sue Lacy, "Do your best, and God will do the rest."
 
So in fighting off my holiday stress, I will count my blessings:
1) I am married to the perfect husband, whom God hand picked for me.
2) I have a wonderful family on both sides.
3) I don't have the rear or thighs of a Victoria Secret model (as made glaringly clear during last night's fashion show), but I do have a darn good waistline.
4) Best of all...I still receive Tiffany & Co. gifts every now and then...BUT I DON"T WORK THERE ANYMORE!!!

Merry "non-Tiffany" Christmas!

Fashionably Inked: Tattoo Tuesday

I have an eclectic list of things that I find lovely. While arbitrary at best, the aesthetic qualities of these items always make me happy. Chandeliers, babushka nesting dolls, old typewriters, and...

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Teacups!

One immediately wonders if there is some sort of symbolic significance behind her choice to acquire this tattoo, but sometimes it's just fun to see things that are pretty. Must a tattoo always symbolize something personal or profound? The clothing we wear normally doesn't. Ink utilized as a permanent fashion accessory certainly requires lucid thinking and thorough commitment, but the results are often striking.

Monday is Monday

There’ll be no convincing myself that today is, in fact, Thursday (sniffle). I’ve been launched into a full-fledged work week that consists of five days in a row with my presence required from 8am to 5pm. BUT….the unfortunate demand on my schedule will only last for three weeks! Thank you, career in higher education, which provides ample Christmas vacation!


My authentic Monday is also accompanied by a need for dietary detox, but my most recent fashion obsession provides a sufficient amount of motivation to de-bloat my waistline. Let me tell you a little story…

After 48 hours of seclusion in the Texas hill country, Rachel, Ellie (Rachel’s three-year-old who might as well be a 23-year-old), and I decided to visit the bustling metropolis of Boerne this past Saturday. Urban sanctuary was it not, but gorgeous weather coupled with a quaint shopping strip proved adequate in satiating our need to socialize with beings beyond the age of 5.

We popped into a little bakery/coffee/sandwich shop sort of place for a bit of sustenance, and as I placed my order, I observed a young woman working behind the counter wearing a vintage floral a-line skirt with tights and worn boho boots.

I need…nay, DEMAND a skirt or two or seventeen similar to this:

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Looks simple enough, right? I’m reluctant to assume that discovering a skirt with adequate proportions will be effortless. Sure, many skirts styled similarly populate any department store or boutique one might enter, but I find that they are often too short, too long, or too tight. For this look to work, I need the waist to fit at my actual waistline (otherwise known as “high-waisted” nowadays), the skirt to reach a length right above my knees, and the shape of the a-line to protrude voluminously away from the body without layers of tulle present to support the fabric.

Thus begins my fashion mission for the next couple of weeks: I shall locate at least one vintage floral a-line skirt to pair with leggings and my boho boots!

This look tends to be flattering for many body types so if you like it, go for it! Just remember…not too short, not too long, not too tight.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Here's a fun assignment from our lifegroup last night: Tell at least three people why you are thankful for them today!

In other news: If you truly love Thanksgiving with the the deepest of commitment, you can always show that love today and every other day for the rest of your life...

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I would have worked a can of cranberry sauce into mine, but that's just me...

Have a great holiday, everyone! We'll catch up on Monday!

Tattoo Tuesday/Fashion Forum Friday Double Feature

Today’s Tuesday is superior to all other Tuesdays due to its uncanny resemblance of a Friday. I am unable to distinguish which days’ event proves to be more exciting so we’ll just go with a mash up and celebrate Tattoo Tuesday and Fashion Forum Friday simultaneously. That, and I’ll be without internet access for the remainder of the week starting tomorrow; B and I will be nestled in the Texas hill country at his parents’ abode in Medina in celebration of Thanksgiving most likely until Sunday.

Tattoo Tuesday  Portion:

Remember when we discussed my mom's tattoo from LA Ink's High Voltage? Well, here's the newest version as rendered by...you guessed it, Derek at Poking You. We walked into the shop one Wednesday evening a couple of weeks ago only with the intention to discuss what Derek could possibly do to embellish the design. He did not want to touch the actual dogwood branch because it is a great tat, but the next thing we knew, he was free handing a mock up of a waterfall directly onto her skin. We decided that the best course of action would be to make the existing dogwood branch pop, and he more than achieved that effect by creating an almost blurred landscape in the background. The picture does not do the tattoo justice by any means, but at least you get the idea. He created an entirely new dimension, and the unfocused waterfall next to the sharp image of the dogwood growing out of rocks creates and optical illusion, which causes the eye to see moving water. He used absolutely no outline and no black ink.

So far, she's really pleased with the results, and I definitely think the overall design now possesses more thought and character. What do you guys think?

Fashion Forum Friday Portion:

Well, the temperature tomorrow should reach a frigid 81 degrees (I really miss authentic winter weather around the holidays), but we should be in the 60s by Friday, which makes me feel a bit more encouraged about my Fashion Forum Friday pick.

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Is there an age at which one should stop wearing Juicy Couture? If there is...don't tell me about it because I love my boots and have been waiting all spring, summer, and fall to wear them. My parents gave them to me for my birthday last year, but warm spring weather had already befallen us by the time I received them. Besides, I vacillate quite oddly between extreme levels of hot and cold while on road trips, but my feet seem to remain perpetually icy once November hits. Hence, my Fashion Forum Friday (Tuesday) pick of the week.

What are you looking forward to sporting while eating Turkey and watching the Waterboy this Thanksgiving? What? Watching the Waterboy isn't a universal Thanksgiving tradition?

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone! And see you next Monday :-)
 

This Monday looks like Thursday

2 Day Work Week, I love you!

B and I arrived home last night after attending a Family Life marriage retreat in San Antonio, and we have great news: we have no plans on getting a divorce. Alas, we never did; still, I encourage any and all married couples to take a weekend out of the year to focus solely on their marriage. Regardless of how healthy or unhealthy you may consider the state of your marriage, a bit of attention and maintenance can profoundly alter its course for the better. If you're looking for a good place to start, visit http://www.familylife.com/.

But here's what's really fun and relevant to shoes & tattoos. As intended, Rachel captured some fabulous images of, well, my shoes and tattoos! Here's but a preview:

I'd like to thank B's arm for standing in to provide a more natural pose for my arm.

I am more pleased than ever to have added additional details to my original bird tattoo. If you have a distinctly stylized idea and are super picky about details, which most ink enthusiasts are, it can be extremely difficult to commit to a tattoo expansion. Again, I urge you to find a reputable artist, whose work you are drawn to, because elements of your tattoo could get fouled up easily. For instance, Derek had to spend quite a bit of time slowly building up the outline for the frame. In doing so, he was able to create very fine, yet detailed, lines in the drawing. Less experienced or cautious artists may rush the process, which allows the ink to bleed, resulting in a smudgy, less sharp image. I did not want a lot of heavy black on my forearm, and his painstaking execution allowed for a delicate, clear image.

Didn't Rachel do a great job with the photo? I've seen some of the other pics she took and can hardly wait to premier my new blog template!

Stay tuned...

Fashion Forum Friday: Audience Participation Day!

Happy Friday, Everyone!


And a very happy birthday wish for my husband. Happy Birthday, B!

It’s about 9:30am, and as I did not make it to bed until 1:30am this morning, the most profound thought I’ve had thus far is as follows: “Hmmm…drinking HEB sparkling lime water immediately after taking a swig of coffee with creamer and artificial sweetener induces an after taste not dissimilar to that experienced after eating a bowl of Trix cereal.”

You’re welcome.

Tonight, B and I set course for San Antonio where we will rendezvous with Curtis and Rachel at the Hyatt Regency Hill Country resort for a fun-filled weekend of drunken debauchery. We told everyone we were attending a marriage seminar, and they totally bought it.

As most of you know, Rachel has assisted me greatly in making my blog look a little more “put together.” Still, the current look is temporary, as I don’t feel that it fully represents my vision. I chose the template, and it’s cute, but…it would be good if I knew what on earth my vision looked like. Fortunately for me, Rachel is a blog visionary. She requested that I bring my favorite pair of heels to the seminar this weekend so she could take a picture for a blog design she had been formulating.

Hence my Fashion Forum Friday item of the week:

Did you just hear angels singing? Yeah, they're that good.

Yes, I wore these heels for my wedding, and they remain my most prized pair. Every now and then they come out of the Dior box in my closet and into the light of day to bless others with their pure and merciful beauty. If any pair of heels that I currently own needs to be featured in a personalized blog design, it’s this pair, hands down.

She told me other details about her burgeoning vision, but I don’t want to give too much away! We'll all just have to wait and see....

So fashionistas/fashionisters, what are you looking forward to wearing this weekend?

Maroon Weekly: Fashion Fibs Revealed

My next to last column for the semester is out online and in print!

http://maroonweekly.com/?p=3202

Let me know what you think!

Gucci

Also Joined Bloglvin...

Follow my blog with bloglovin

In case you require another avenue to follow :-)

IFB, I love you!

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I’m retracing my internet steps from yesterday, and I can’t for the life of me remember how I stumbled across this gem (so sorry if it was you who graciously directed me there), but I am now officially registered with Independent Fashion Bloggers.com! And I LURVE it so far….and I’m OVERWHELMED by it so far. I have been presented with a smorgasbord of information as it pertains to fashion blogging/bloggers!


Thus far the paramount benefit has been the expansion of my network; several writers have already checked out my baby blog and requested that I peruse their grown up blogs. The community appears to be a valuable resource for connecting with others, who entertain similar interests, and learning how to develop my own blogging style. (I just reread that paragraph and am now assuming that you are slumbering peacefully after scanning that trite description, but I’m a diminutive fish in a vast pond so wake up and get excited for me!)

IFB community, I am thrilled to be involved so bear with me while I sort out all of this exciting, yet intimidating, information. Thanks for having me!

Last Ditch Effort (HELP!!!)

'Ello fellow fashion/ink/blog enthusiasts! (My inner dialogue decided to  affect a British accent this morning.)

Question #1: What do you think of the new domain and design? Is anyone having problems? I suppose it would be difficult to adequately answer that question if you are, in fact, having difficulties finding the blog...but try.

I'm switching Wednesday's normal subject, "Fashioned for Faithfulness", to tomorrow in an attempt to request any last minute ideas and opinions for my final Maroon Weekly article of the semester. Allow me to let you in on a secret, but shhhhh....don't tell my editor. I'm suffering writer's block pertaining to the subject: How to Make an Ugly Sweater Christmas/Winter Party Chic. Uhhhh.....everyone wear black sweaters and brink opera length cigarette holders? Well, that's a short article.

I've received a few great suggestions, and I am slowly formulating an outline, but if anyone else has something to contribute, let me know as soon as possible. My deadline is tomorrow so I need to get it written today!

Or....help me think of famous chic, fashionable sweater icons or pictures. For instance, Marilyn Monroe was once photographed in a cable-knit sweater, which inspired a fashion wave.

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Let's get away from Bill Cosby and Mr. Rogers; they're great guys but not so much "chic".

Or...if you can think of something amazing, original, and groundbreaking, let me know!

Any and all opinions are welcome! (Those pertaining to the chic ugly sweater party, that is, because I'm far too overwhelmed right now to hear your thoughts on the current head scarf famine crisis...oh yeah, it's going on, and we're all suffering silently.)

The one where I make up my mind....

Okay, people, I promise this blog name will stick...because I paid for it.

You can now find my blog at http://www.shoesandtattoos.com/, as you may have noticed....
Fashionablyimperfect.blogspot.com should automatically redirect to my new domain so hopefully we don't run into any problems. Stick with me, though, in case we encounter obstacles. We'll pull through!

Fashionably Inked: Tattoo Tuesday

There are days when I sit back and think, “You know, if someone told me I’d be publishing my own insipid intelligent thoughts online for a public forum a mere five years ago, I would have told that person to get on out of here and shut the front door. That’s crazy talk.” And then I feel a gratifying sense of accomplishment for the few months of consistent writing to which I’ve dedicated myself and which people seem to be reading.


Today is not one of those days.

Today is a day that I stumble upon yet another grown up, sophisticated, artistic, creative blog produced by another writer who shares similar interests and has mastered a supreme level of blogdom. Today, another more experienced blog is putting my baby blog to shame.

Rachel, of the illustrious FollowingInMyShoes.com, keeps me updated on interesting blogs, articles, and Real Housewives of Whatever Arbitrary City Bravo Has Chosen (we watch that exclusively for social research…definitely not for cheap entertainment). Today, she directed me to A Beautiful Mess, a blog managed by writer, designer, great music-lover, and fellow tattoo enthusiast Elsie Flannigan. Elsie has consequently joined the ranks of who I want to be when I grow up along with Rachel, Jenny Lewis, C.S. Lewis, and Joshilyn Jackson.

Visit Elsie’s blog and enjoy her story, her shop called Red Velvet Art, and her really cool tattoos! Hers is an image I often idolize; she executes (exceptionally well) the quirky yet urbane look that calls for cute hair, vintage dresses, and feminine tattoos. I want to look like her but still like me ALL THE TIME!

I am beyond grateful to have any time whatsoever to write a blog as well as a published fashion column, but I often crave the talent and creativity others, such as Ms. Flannigan and Mrs. Lacy, possess, and don’t even get me started on my friend Neysa’s blog, Dissertation to Dirt. I do realize these and other individuals have chosen to dedicate more time and energy in developing their blogs; they didn’t sprinkle magic fairy dust onto their keyboards.

That’s the thing, though! Between advising, my small amounts of writing, visiting friends and family, corralling my dogs, and being married, I don’t know when I would do it. Rachel has two children for crying out loud! Elsie Flannigan runs a shop and creates merchandise with which to fill it! Neysa is growing a farm….literally. She’s, like, making stuff come out of the ground…in large amounts! I think they do have magic fairy keyboard dust…

Oh well. Maybe someday, I will sit myself down, read Blogging for Dummies, and alter my blog’s appearance and functionality for the better. Until then, I shall enjoy my small amount of writing, hunting for cool clothes and tattoos, and reading superhuman blogs written by the aforementioned superhumans.

Help me save Christmas! (Deluxe Monday Double Edition)

Actually, Christmas is fine and without need of saving.

I, on the other hand, require your assistance in research for my final Maroon Weekly article of the semester.

I need your opinions, your ideas, your insight, your wisdom, and if you could submit that to me in approximately 500 words, that would be ideal.

I kid. I'll write the article, but I honestly would like some feedback.

Leave a comment below describing how you would make an Ugly Sweater Party chic for the Christmas season. And I use "chic" loosely, here. I think we've officially moved out of the realm of "tasteful", but if Katy Perry can inspire fashion trends, much less leave her home in her cavity-inducing get ups, I think the Ugly Sweater Party has a chance.



Thank you to B. Lacy and Matthew Henry for modeling seasonal sweaters for us...unbeknownst to them. I actually like Matthew's quite a bit.

 Any and all ideas are welcome!

P.S. Can someone please tell Katy Perry to just stop it, already! Stop encouraging her; it's getting embarrassing.

Wha' Happened?

Well it’s 8:24am, and I’m officially over Monday. Just thought I’d set the mood…


Many apologies for having to leave my Fashion Forum Friday contributors high and dry. I imagine you were all running about in increased states of panic and terror, as you had no outlet to discuss your weekend wear.

While it’s a meager excuse for reparation, why don’t we reflect upon our weekend ensembles and long for happier days filled with more sleep and less consciousness?

Yesterday, B and I transported my mother from B/CS to Killeen, where she was intercepted by my sister and her husband. Luckily, she remained compliant and did not have to be bound, gagged, and thrown in the back of the truck.

I decided upon a “road trip casual” sort of look. Jeans, charcoal Converse, and the pièce de résistance…

Thank you, Urban Outfitters, for providing me with a stylistic medium by which I can say, "Good day, Berlin" in my non-native tongue!
 
Did anyone else get to wear something fun this weekend? Or is the trauma caused by the its inevitable conclusion still too near to your heart to comfortably discuss?