Vinyl Veekend: Paul Simon's Graceland

I thought I'd do something obvious this weekend. Paul Simon's Graceland. His opus in my opinion. I'm sure some of you are all like "OMG, duh...this is my favorite album already!!!" I hope, but I thought I'd share for the people who haven't experienced the pure genius of this record.

If you have a record player, buy this album. As you can see I got it at Half Price Books (which they don't have in LA, kill me now) for $3.99. You WILL NOT regret this purchase. Paul Simon is probably my favorite singer-song writer of ALL time. Graceland is without a doubt in my top 5 albums of all time, and this album is such a good summer jam!

Here's some things:

1. Lady Smith Black Mambazo, a South African a cappella choir is featured on this album. Did you hear me? African a cappella singing! If that is not reason enough for you to give it a listen then...well, I guess I just don't know who you are anymore.

2. When I first laid eyes on Jonathan "You Can Call Me Al" (one of the hits from this album) was playing on the jukebox at Bennigan's. Yes, Bennigan's. Me and J's origin story is peppered with little white trash details, and we aren't ashamed.

3. I have peed in Paul Simon's toilet in his New York City apartment where I also looked over his MASSIVE collection of poetry books. He was not home. (Long story).

4. When I was a child my mom played lots of folk music, which is where my affair with Simon and
Garfunkle started, and is what lead to my discovery of this album later in life.

5. If you like the stylings of a little band called Vampire Weekend, you have this album to thank.

6. I want to learn the dance moves L.S.B.M. jam out in this music video. All of them.

Jonny sells vinyl on ebay if you want to have a looksee go HERE. 

Happy Weekending!

Adventures in Big Sur

Have you been to Big Sur (or more inappropriately Big Fuggin Sur)? How I have gotten this far in my life and not witnessed the beauty that this place has to offer is a mystery. When we began to ascend the PCH approaching Big Sur I almost teared up around every bend in the road. (Pro-tip Andrew Bird is the best nature gazing music EVER). 

We took the camping trip for our two year anniversary. Maybe you're thinking what I was thinking. Camping? For a wedding anniversary? Yaaaaayy.... Sleeping on the grooound.....

But that is because where I grew up, "camping" meant "sleeping in an otherwise mostly deserted nature-area because we had no where else to consume alcoholic beverages" Ya' know, CAMPING! Also I went hiking. Which turns out is just walking in nature. For some reason I thought it would involve climbing and being forced to eat granola or something. So now in my late 20's, I realize that I love hiking AND camping......with an Airstream. 

Big Sur is one of those magical places that sucks away any anxious thoughts that typically riddle your skull in real life. It's no wonder Kerouac and Henry Miller chilled here. The weekend was full of sticking feet in waterfalls, visiting local cafes, watching sunlight glimpse through the thick shade of the Pine and Redwood trees, cruising on the edge of cliffs (this is where aaaaallll those car commercials are filmed), and drinking wine and whiskey, warming our toes by the fire. 

Being unplugged for 3 days was a gift. On the drive home, once we got a signal, I began to catch up on  social media happenings. In doing so I became intensely aware of how certain updates and photos made me feel. It was so easy to just stop following people or hide them from my feed. I suppose when you see it everyday any negative feeling that pops up just becomes normal. To be away from it was eye-opening. Ain't nobody got time for that. 

Lula just exploring naked like a BOSS. 

The cutest (and only) coffee shop in Big Sur

Henry Miller Library. Strange lawn art. 

If my mother was a restaurant she was be Deetjen's.

Playing Favorites: High Top Chucks

Sentiment. Such a human thing. And wearing it? Even more so. Whether it be a necklace, a scarf, an old shirt, or in my case: shoes, when you put an item on that carries emotional value it's comforting. These shoes are most definitely velveteen rabbits (I've loved the life right into them). They don't smell as bad as they look like they do. They are worn to bits, and of all my fashionable footwear they are hands down (feet down?) the best shoes I own.

Originally my little brother's 'every day' kicks, they became worn out and morphed into his lawn mowing shoes...the white rubber is stained green. He wears a bigger size than me, so they resemble clown shoes ever so slightly (I like to keep my footwear floppaaaaay). They have holes, the laces are busted and I wouldn't want it any other way. Now that I think about it they are probably my favorite piece in my entire closet.

People pay good money to sport sartorial selections as perfectly destructed as these Chuck Taylors. 

I grew close to my little brother in our high school years. We explored the suburban teenage pop-punk, angsty, drinking beer in woods, converse wearing, hot pink and green hair dying horizons together, and he did it all while wearing these shoes. I'm afraid when they become completely unwearable I might have to bronze them.

Funny how nostalgia can take something representative of such an uncomfortable time in life
(teenage-dom) and transform it into...well...ultimate comfort. On days when "I just need to do me, y'all" (i.e. no makeup, jeans, and a non discript shirt) these hightops are a go-to.

So here's I am. No make-up (not trying to make a statement or anything, unless the statement is "I'm lazy"), jeans, nappy hair and my favorite shoes.

What's the story with the sentimental pieces in your closets? I wanna know about 'em.

{Glasses: c/o Firmoo}{Shoes:Gifted}{Jeans:DKNY}{Shirt: Thrifted Raplh Lauren}

A Brief History of Polka Dots: And How to Wear Dots

The Polka Dot. Established as a staple in fashion by one, Minnie Mouse in the 20's. Popularized by Lucille Ball and Marilyn. Used in the 50's as a post war pick-me-up in Graphic Design. And perhaps most endearingly, named after a dance all the rage in the 1800's...you guessed it: The Polka.

These cute little guys had a rough go at it in the early days. Popular opinion was they resembled measles and other infectious horrifying diseases (cute, huh?). Eventually, and only a little less disgustingly, they found a way to make themselves useful through patching ---> the dark dots or "moles" folks would place on their faces to cover blemishes. I guess the pounds of white makeup didn't do the trick.

Finally, Minnie busted on the scene with her red Polka Dot skirt, and they've been on popular fashion's good side ever since. Disney characters have a way of defining certain styles don't they? (See: Ariel with purple and green (right, Gaby?), or Tinkerbell with the Pixie cut (she's the reason I had one). 

I have a personal love affair with Polka Dots mainly for the manner in which they serve up pattern mixing perfection in any scenario. These black and white shorts are a favorite of mine. They look adorable with so much, I have a hard time deciding what to pair with them sometimes.

Maybe a bold striped shirt for more pattern mixing fun times like this one. 
Floral like this would work too.
Dot on Dot is also a fun treat. These multi-colored dot platforms aren't for the feint of heart.
Or this vintage sheer shirt would be killer.

Style tip: When mixing dots, (or any patterns) it's best to vary in the size of the pattern in different pieces. Small dots? Big Stripes!

My favorite Polka Dot moment? Gwen Stefani's navy and white dress in the Don't Speak video. I've been looking for that damn dress since I was 14.
Do you Dot?
Any favorite Polka Dot fashion moments out there?

{Shirt: Thrifted}

{Clutch: Thrifted}

{Glasses: Husband's Vintage Ray Bans (Similar)}

{Shoes and Cuff: JCP}

{Shorts: F21 (soooo old, but here's cute ones)}

{Jacket: Buffalo Exchange (Similar)}

Sources for this post: here and here.

Real Talk: Parabens in Personal Lubricant

{via}

I had somewhat of a horrifying revelation recently. As you may or may not remember from this post, I have been hyper selective with my skincare products lately, purging all products containing parabens (alliteration all-star), and also purging products that are not cruelty free. In my crusade I forgot one most important product in regards to genitalia paraphernalia: personal lubricant. 

GASP! I know. That's why I'm calling this segment "Real Talk," y'all! I mean, if we're going to talk about cruelty free and organic skin care, we can't leave lube out. Some women use it for added fun, some use it out of necessity, some with a partner and some when they are having "me" time.

"It is the unsung hero of sensual accessories" said the girl at the adult novelty shop. 

(which is the only place you can physically go to have more than 1 or 2 choices of lubricant). Not only is lube regularly used by women, but it is directly absorbed into our bloodstream through a pretty damn special place...

our pita pockets.

I said pita pockets instead of vaginas to make everyone comfortable. We good? Alright moving on.

If you are unfamiliar with the paraben controversy here is a little over veiw:
-Parabens are used as preservatives, as they are anti-bacterial and anti-fungal.
-Parabens are used in beauty products, cosmetics, sunscreen, shaving cream, body wash etc.
-Parabens mimic estrogen and have been found in the tissue of cancerous breast tumors.
-Parabens are known hormone disrupters.
-Certain parabens can actually accelerate the aging process.
-All commercially used parabens are synthetically produced.

Of course it is a controversy, so there are groups (FDA...totally trustworthy) who think parabens are alright to use daily. If you are interested to learn more you can go here, and here 

Hormone disrupters? Mimic estrogen which causes cancer? Worst of all: ACCELERATED AGING!!!? (Not the worst. The cancer thing is the worst). I'm thinking we should probably avoid putting this stuff in our uteri. I figure if there are products out there that don't contain parabens, better safe than sorry, right?

So I conducted some serious scientific research (I googled it) to let you know you have more than 2 or 3 choices when it comes to the slippery stuff. (It doesn't so much feel that way if you're shopping for it at Target or Walgreens. KY has a monopoly on that shizz).

Water based lubricants: apparently these are great because they're easily washed off and they're sex toy compatible (look, I don't know what you're into, I'm just spittin' facts!), however they dry up faster. Silicone based lubricants stay slicker longer and cannot be absorbed by the body. Another plus? You can use them in water. In the hot tub! In the rain! (Again, I don't know what you're into).   However, they are more expensive and can stain sheets.

If you're sensitive, avoid any product with glycerin as it contains sugar and can cause yeast infections. Also, some women are irritated by silicone so it's good to test it out first.

Either way, both of these options are better than parabens in my opinion. For more info you can go to
http://www.hollisticwisdom.com, there's tons of info on this site, and lots of natural lubricant options here. 

And here's a link to a natural alternative specially made for women with sensitivities and allergies: http://www.sliquid.com/

Although, it may seem like a taboo topic, we need to educate ourselves on exactly what we're putting in our bodies. Do your research and find out what will work best for you! It feels so good to make an educated decision when acting as a consumer. For me personally, from food and beverage to beauty products and sexy fun times, the more organic the better.

Style Slip-Ups: Learning from Our Mistakes.

Besides how oddly shaped my skull is, what is the first thing you think when you look at this photo? Maybe it's, 

"Girl you a 'ho in dat see thru dress" 

or maybe it's, 

"A license plate clutch? What is this, 1994?"

If it's either of those things you're wrong. I'm not a 'ho, and the license plate clutch is CHEESY AND AMAZING. The answer I am looking for is: the shoes are wrong. However, I decided to go ahead and post this look so we could have a chat about how mistakes like this can be used for growth in the sartorial departments of our lives. 

After taking these photos almost a month ago, I hesitated posting them because I felt so strongly that I made the wrong choice as far as foot accessory. Leaving the house at the time I felt totally confident and even proud of my entire ensemble . Hellllooooo.. sheer secretary dress revealing hot pants underneath? The answer is almost always yes. However, after reviewing the photos I wondered how I could've chosen these dainty little wedges as opposed to a shoe that balances the look out more. (Maybe some sort of black boot?)

I decided to go ahead and post the look to make this very point: it's important to learn from our style slip-ups, and what better way to learn than from documenting and analyzing? What else am I getting from this (or any) style blog? 

A false sense of importance? Yes, most likely.

But really...with each outfit posted I discover something new, or become more brave, or learn to deal with the shame of looking like a complete and utter idiot in front of my millions of readers (sarcasm, a little self deprecation never hurt anyone). It's alright to look back and cringe not only at poor style choices you've made, but at any poor choice you've made.

(Unless the choice was clear bra straps with a tube top. In that case DON'T LOOK BACK. DON'T EVER LOOK BACK!!!!).

The silver lining is that we're learning and growing from our mistakes, and never shall we ever sport clear bra straps with a tube top again.  

Any style mishaps you've learned from? 

What shoes would you have rocked with this outfit?

{Dress: Vintage (Similar)}

{Jacket: Vintage (Similar Here)}

{Shoes: Red and Violet available here}

{Licence Plate Clutch: Gift}

{Belt: Grandmother's}

{Glasses: Cotton On (Similar Here)}

Links a La Mode Weekly Round Up!

Peruse among the genius of my contemporaries!! 

Beauty Positive
Real beauty comes from within. It's an old saying, and generally I find it to be true. Beautiful people have positive souls. But ... it never hurts to have good makeup and style to make your inner beauty shine. This week we have a great mix of beautifying tips on several levels to bring out the very best in you. From positive fashion quotes, owning your age & style, to nixing online bullying in the fashion community... body positive thinking and actual beauty tips galore. As a beauty junkie, I was delighted to read all the beauty tips! Of course, we have loads of style tips to get you started for the coming summer season!

Links à la Mode: The IFB Weekly Roundup: May 2nd

    
Attire Club: Choose Your Glasses According To Your Face Shape
    
Beach Living City Loving: Favorite Beauty Products: Part 1- Drugstore
    
Cosmolawitain: H&M’s Expansion Into India
    
Coverrated: Shoes are the new corsets
    
Fashion Files: Interview Style
    
Fashion Is Evolution: The Phenomenon of Bullying in the Blogging Community
    
[Flash] Frame: Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-on Eyeliner Review
    
I Am Turquoise: 5 Ways to Wear: Denim Vest
    
J'Adore Couture: the one thing: dressing your age
    
La Vie en Couleur: How to Dress Like a Parisian
    
Nothing to Wear: Say Something: positive and uplifting fashion quotes
    
Rose & Pine: Stunning Spring Sunnies for Under $40!
    
Romeo Style: Think Outside The Box For Prom. Part 1
    
Serving Up Fairy Dust.. The Best Makeup Primer for Sensitive Acne Prone Skin
    
Style Vanity: What to Wear to Weddings?
    
The Fashionable Wife: Maxi Styling
    
The Fitted Frame: The Skinny on Body Image
    
The Photogramps: Making a Simple Dress Unique
    
Undercover Dress-Up: Porcelain Print
    
Wild Beauty World: Peggy Olson at Work? Cosmetic Ads from 1968

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