2.8 // weather lies… oh, it lies…

“Today was a day as such that one could fool oneself into believing that we were on the brink of spring, grass about to spread over everything and flowers about to bloom and have their colours tumble forth from their various gardens and hedges and flower-boxes; the sun shone so brilliantly, the sky glowed so blue-ly and clearly and was not marred by any heavy grey curtain of cloud, and the wind breathed so gently that the small birds emerged and shook the snow crystals off their downy breasts and trilled the first few tentative notes of the happier season to come…”

That pretty much sums up today. It almost got to 40 degrees – unheard of for February – and so I forced myself to run outside, sans Law & Order on the treadmill… So glad I did. It was gorgeous. And yes, if you imagined, it did almost feel like spring. But then by the time I got back the sun was setting and the temperature was consequentially dropping. But it was beauteous while it lasted.

I have to admit, my mind has been more focused on writing and photography than fashion and such… just that sort of phase. A lull, I suppose. But here are a few personal gems of inspiration:

Stolen from Talk Wordy To Me…

“I was beginning to wonder whether he had a right arm. Maybe the sleeve was empty. Not that it was any of my business. Nobody gets through life without losing a few things on the way.”
~ From the story “Feeders and Eaters” in Neil Gaiman’s Fragile Things

~ r

2.7 // sunday morning donuts

Why I Wake Up At 8 a.m. On Sunday Mornings:

That is all. Programming will continue as scheduled.

~ r

2.7 // and so with a nap drifts away the afternoon

After a rather enjoyable evening and quicker-than-expected dance cleanup and a hilarious ride home and a blessed, blessed shower, I went to bed this morning at 2. Four hours past my self-imposed and quite successful bedtime. So today, when I dragged myself out of bed at 8 a.m. for mass, I knew that a nap would be forthcoming. I drifted off reading Fitzgerald’s This Side Of Paradise, which I’m liking, and am currently having major troubles staying awake. So – the post!

Not a very flattering picture of me – it was FREEZING, so we didn’t spend much/any time figuring out poses or anything – but you get the idea of my dress. Deep V in the front.

Michelle had a 40s-glamour sort of thing going with her lips and feather in her hair.

Brittany kept talking about how she NEVER wore this much eyeliner. It was funny.

Then there’s the ever-gorgeous Camille:

Annie and me being silly…

Sadly, I didn’t bother to take pictures at the actual dance… I didn’t have a good flash and they wouldn’t be that interesting (or flattering, haha) either. But there you go. I’m off to go on the treadmill in an attempt to keep myself from slumping over onto my keyboard, snoring. Happy Superbowl!

~ r

2.5 // friday, the day before

Because I’m on top of things like that, I got my winterfest dress yesterday… I tend to stay pretty safe with these types of things, seeing as I don’t care that much about dances anyway… It’s royal blue with a lowish v-neck halter and a low back, ruched at the butt, with a bit of a train. However, because I am currently in my PJs, there’s no picture. There will be, though. For now:

The Sart. Love the color.

Cocorosa.

I’ll post for real soon. Promise.

~ r

2.2 // LV clogs: still not OK.

As previously stated, clogs are just NOT OK. I don’t care who makes them. I don’t know how I missed these Louis Vuitton gems (sense the sarcasm dripping from my keyboard, people) in all their bright green, monogrammed, mustachioed, kitten-heeled nauseating glory.

See more LV clog monstrosities here.

~ r

2.2 // inspiration (and a head-gash)

I had a whole post planned out, but due to a nearly two-inch long raised gash on my head (stitches may be required, but we haven’t bothered with the doc yet) from standing up directly into a metal locker door at about 50 mph (OW) and a resulting tumble + blackout (or maybe I just closed my eyes – I can’t remember), I’ve sustained a frontal headache for about five hours now. This makes concentrating rather difficult. So, courtesy of Vanessa Jackman and the Sart, respectively, I give you my inspiration for today:

Vogue UK’s Emma Elwick (Market Editor)

Pitti Uomo

This guy makes me want to write a short story. Maybe I will.

~ r

2.1 // Grammys 2010

So before last night, I’d never watched any sort of awards ceremony before – Academy Awards, Grammys, Tony, Oscars… nothing. Just glanced at the dresses. But last night I came up (from watching National Treasure) and it was on, so I watched. Dresses!

Beyonce. Not a fan of the sleeves on this. I love the on she performed in, though.

Heidi Klum in Pucci.

Marisa Miller in vintage Gucci.

Lady Gaga in custom Armani Prive. The dress & shoes (Nina Ricci) are… fine, but her face and wig – something went badly awry there, I think, in terms of makeup…

For a complete slideshow, click HERE.

~ r

Model Profile: Emina Cunmulaj

Emina Cunmulaj // JPG SS2010 couture – beauty.

Born:  Sept. 12, 1984
in Michigan(!).
Ethnicity: American (Albanian parents)
Height: 5′ 11″
Moved to Yugoslavia and was a semifinalist in the Elite modeling contest. Signed on with 

1.29 // perk vs. perq

Grammar geek-out time!

I’m one of those grammar nazis – NOT nazi’s, mind you, *shudder – but I also have a strong affinity for words. Good words. Strong words, descriptive words, accurate words. My grandparents (a physical chemist and English professor, respectively) pointed out over Christmas break that, compared to other languages, English is extremely accurate – we have so many words that, in other languages, would be boiled down to one or two. Unfortunately, as today is, in fact, the last day of exams (which means that my brain is currently fried and running on peanut butter ice cream and saltine crackers)(yum), no examples immediately spring to mind. But they will. Eventually.

But I digress. I wrote my final article for news staff (due tonight at midnight – not procrastinating, no…), and I used the word “perk” to describe the benefit of getting college funds from joining the Marines. I had my dad (an engineer, but one of those rare engineers who are both [1] very competent engineers and [2] able to string together a decent sentence) look it over. He pointed out to me that “perk” was not actually correct, and that “perq” was.

“Perk” is now one of those words that, while technically incorrect, has become so widely used that “perq” is the choice regarded as incorrect. “Perq” is a shortened form of “perquisite,” meaning:

Main Entry: per·qui·site
Pronunciation: \ˈpər-kwə-zət\
Etymology: Middle English, property acquired by means other than inheritance, from Anglo-French perquisit, Medieval Latin perquisitum, from neuter of perquisitus, past participle of perquirere to purchase, acquire, from Latin, to search for thoroughly, from per- thoroughly + quaerere to seek
1 : a privilege, gain, or profit incidental to regular salary or wages; especially : one expected or promised
2 : gratuity, tip
3 : something held or claimed as an exclusive right or possession

So I changed perk to perq and, in anticipation of my teacher not knowing the difference, provided a helpful PS.

And thus ends today’s verbal adventure. A demain!

~ r

1.29 // big camera + mischa barton on L&O

I’ve grown to be a fan of Law & Order (SVU in particular), mostly because it’s always on when I get home from school and hop on the treadmill because I’ve been a lazy butt, which I’m ok with, because it’s been under twenty degrees for about two months now. So. The episode airs March 1 and features Mischa playing a sad prostitute. Read NYmag’s article here.

Christopher Meloni on set – “Hey, check out this comically sized camera!”

“I mean, who needs a camera this big? Seriously!”

Mischa Barton.

My friend has that Lennon biography – I skimmed it and now I want it.

Off to wrap up my final article for news staff… due at midnight tonight… What? Procrastinating? Who, me? Never. Pffft. I *definitely* didn’t just start today…

~ r