Things I Like About Summer - TV You remember when the summer months meant a TV black out? Nothing interesting was on. It wasn’t all that long ago that the summer months were full of TV networks scraping the bottom of the barrel, lots of game shows and movie specials and constant reruns. The first time I remember really resenting the summer television black hole was after one Friends finale—the one in London, you found out Monica and Chandler slept together, and then Ross said the wrong name—I almost DIED waiting for the show to come back. Other kids played outside happily and I mourned the loss of my TV shows. I was strange. Thankfully, the summer television doldrums are no more. Here are some summer shows I’m looking forward to—and their premiere dates.  True Blood - Sun, June 10th on HBO : Lord, I hope Tara is dead. That may be awful of me to say, but she’s officially run her course on the show as far as I’m concerned, she got downright annoying last season. The sadistic part of me, too, wants to pile the grief onto Lafeyette, because HE is fascinating and I want to see what will happen to him. The witches started to grate on my nerves last season so I’m thankful the show is returning to its Vamp-baddie roots with the return of Russel Edgington.  What Not To Wear - Already Premiered, Tues on TLC : This shit is like crack. I can’t stop watching it. Clinton Kelly is adorable and it’s always, ALWAYS, entertaining to watch someone try to defend their decision to wear a leopard print handkerchief as a shirt. Suits - Thurs June 14th on USA : I didn’t watch this show live last year, I caught it all on demand. It’s delicious, the men and women on this show are are slinky and sleek, nimbly playing limbo with the law without creasing their perfectly pressed suits. Bonus points for the presence of Gina Torres who has the same level of badass in this show that she did in Firefly, but wields a Prada suitcase instead of a shotgun.  The Newsroom - Sun June 24th on HBO : I have a strange love-hate relationship with Aaron Sorkin, but the bastard is talented. I can’t deny that. I’ve also been suffering from serious Sam Waterston withdrawal since NBC canceled Law & Order. So, I’ll be tuning in. The Closer - Mon July 9th on TNT : Brenda Lee Johnson is one of my favorite characters on TV. She’s fantastic, just the right blend of witty and smart and stylishly dressed. She’s a powerful woman in a demanding job whose is respected by the guys that work under her. I also enjoy that her power is never diminished when she has the rare snack-cake aided emotional breakdown.   Breaking Bad - Sun July 15th on AMC : How much more fucked up can Walter possibly get after last year’s season finale? I dunno, but I’m looking forward to finding out…something tells me it’s going to be brutal considering this is the show’s last season.

Things I Like About Summer - TV

You remember when the summer months meant a TV black out? Nothing interesting was on. It wasn’t all that long ago that the summer months were full of TV networks scraping the bottom of the barrel, lots of game shows and movie specials and constant reruns. The first time I remember really resenting the summer television black hole was after one Friends finale—the one in London, you found out Monica and Chandler slept together, and then Ross said the wrong name—I almost DIED waiting for the show to come back. Other kids played outside happily and I mourned the loss of my TV shows. I was strange.

Thankfully, the summer television doldrums are no more. Here are some summer shows I’m looking forward to—and their premiere dates. 

True Blood - Sun, June 10th on HBO : Lord, I hope Tara is dead. That may be awful of me to say, but she’s officially run her course on the show as far as I’m concerned, she got downright annoying last season. The sadistic part of me, too, wants to pile the grief onto Lafeyette, because HE is fascinating and I want to see what will happen to him. The witches started to grate on my nerves last season so I’m thankful the show is returning to its Vamp-baddie roots with the return of Russel Edgington. 

What Not To Wear - Already Premiered, Tues on TLC : This shit is like crack. I can’t stop watching it. Clinton Kelly is adorable and it’s always, ALWAYS, entertaining to watch someone try to defend their decision to wear a leopard print handkerchief as a shirt.

Suits - Thurs June 14th on USA : I didn’t watch this show live last year, I caught it all on demand. It’s delicious, the men and women on this show are are slinky and sleek, nimbly playing limbo with the law without creasing their perfectly pressed suits. Bonus points for the presence of Gina Torres who has the same level of badass in this show that she did in Firefly, but wields a Prada suitcase instead of a shotgun. 

The Newsroom - Sun June 24th on HBO : I have a strange love-hate relationship with Aaron Sorkin, but the bastard is talented. I can’t deny that. I’ve also been suffering from serious Sam Waterston withdrawal since NBC canceled Law & Order. So, I’ll be tuning in.

The Closer - Mon July 9th on TNT : Brenda Lee Johnson is one of my favorite characters on TV. She’s fantastic, just the right blend of witty and smart and stylishly dressed. She’s a powerful woman in a demanding job whose is respected by the guys that work under her. I also enjoy that her power is never diminished when she has the rare snack-cake aided emotional breakdown.  

Breaking Bad - Sun July 15th on AMC : How much more fucked up can Walter possibly get after last year’s season finale? I dunno, but I’m looking forward to finding out…something tells me it’s going to be brutal considering this is the show’s last season.

Dear Suburbia: WHY?

Why do you hate street lamps? The few that DO exist in the minuscule, speck o’ a town I grew up in are dim as fuck and may as well not be there. I had to use my phone as a flash light today to make sure I didn’t trip over an errant brick or bit of sidewalk and brain myself on a curb. The precarious situation wasn’t helped by the fact that I was wearing six inch high platform wedge heels. I shouldn’t have to sacrifice my taste in footwear in order to ensure I can walk across town without tumbling to the ground.

Invest in better lighting, suburbia. STAT.

The Hamptons

Everything I know about the Hamptons I’ve learned from Revenge, Gossip Girl and The Barefoot Contessa. So I know for a fact that everyone in the Hamptons is either dressed impeccably and crafting a fool proof revenge plot OR in the middle of making a mean blueberry crumble for the historical society.

Things I Like About Summer - Sandals The way I feel about boots in the fall is equal to the way I feel about sandals in the summer. Meaning I love them, can’t get enough of them and I probably own way too many of them.  Am I the only one who suffers from temporary heel height insanity when shoe shopping? I swear, half of the shoes in my closet I don’t wear on a regular basis because I either didn’t think to check the height of the heel, or I didn’t think it through before purchasing. I focus on “ooo, that’s pretty” and forget that I will have to WALK IN THESE THINGS.  Le sigh.

Things I Like About Summer - Sandals

The way I feel about boots in the fall is equal to the way I feel about sandals in the summer. Meaning I love them, can’t get enough of them and I probably own way too many of them. 

Am I the only one who suffers from temporary heel height insanity when shoe shopping? I swear, half of the shoes in my closet I don’t wear on a regular basis because I either didn’t think to check the height of the heel, or I didn’t think it through before purchasing. I focus on “ooo, that’s pretty” and forget that I will have to WALK IN THESE THINGS. 

Le sigh.

I’m watching Revenge (a truly wonderful/awful show) on Hulu, and I’ve seen this commercial now about twenty times. I laugh, every time. 

I think it has to do with the fact that the BLEEP has always been funny. Funnier, often, than an actual swear. I think it was the co-creators of South Park who said that when they were making their pilot episode, they realized pretty quickly the onslaught of BLEEPS was funnier than if you’d actually heard Cartman and co. swear. There’s some logic to this. 

I didn’t always see it that way, oddly enough. I remember in writing workshop (and it PAINS me to admit it was a graduate level workshop) where I handed in a piece littered with fucks. The word, not…you know. Actual action fucks. Whatever. I’m sure I thought it was edgy. It wasn’t. It made me look young. In the “you’re an idiot” way. I was already probably the youngest in the room, so it wasn’t doing me any favors. 

For some people constant fucks works. Kevin Smith, for example. However, I think he’s the exception that proves the point.

Source: youtube.com

  • Me: I think we should see The Avengers again for our Birthdays.
  • Owen: I want to see Snow White and The Huntsman
  • Me: We could see both! It could be a double feature.
  • Owen: Isn't that too much Chris Hemsworth?
  • Me: NO SUCH THING.
graceandfamily: Grace Kelly and Clark Gable on the set of Mogambo, 1953 I think there was a whole sub-genre of films for a while there in the 50s and 60s where they tossed attractive people into sub-tropical climates and just filmed the heat fueled sexual tension. I’m looking at YOU TOO, African Queen.

graceandfamily:

Grace Kelly and Clark Gable on the set of Mogambo, 1953

I think there was a whole sub-genre of films for a while there in the 50s and 60s where they tossed attractive people into sub-tropical climates and just filmed the heat fueled sexual tension. I’m looking at YOU TOO, African Queen.

Source: graceandfamily

Things I Like About Summer - Sunglasses It was really hot in Philly today and I was being a grumpy gills about it. In an effort to avoid becoming THAT PERSON, a constant ball of negativity no one wants to hang out with, this week I’ll be reminding myself some of things I LIKE about summer.  I’ve developed a bit of an addiction to sunglasses. My favorite pair last summer were these pink coral knock-off wayfarers. My favorite pair so far this summer are a pair of round frame mod looking glasses I bought off of ASOS.  I love these floral sunglasses—they’re actually vintage Schiaparelli, who was this fantastic surrealist designer Coco Chanel once called, “that Italian artist who makes clothes.” There’s an exhibition of her work alongside Prada’s at the Met right now and I’m definitely going to see it before it leaves in August. 

Things I Like About Summer - Sunglasses

It was really hot in Philly today and I was being a grumpy gills about it. In an effort to avoid becoming THAT PERSON, a constant ball of negativity no one wants to hang out with, this week I’ll be reminding myself some of things I LIKE about summer. 

I’ve developed a bit of an addiction to sunglasses. My favorite pair last summer were these pink coral knock-off wayfarers. My favorite pair so far this summer are a pair of round frame mod looking glasses I bought off of ASOS. 

I love these floral sunglasses—they’re actually vintage Schiaparelli, who was this fantastic surrealist designer Coco Chanel once called, “that Italian artist who makes clothes.” There’s an exhibition of her work alongside Prada’s at the Met right now and I’m definitely going to see it before it leaves in August. 

Nerd note: Bachelard’s Poetics of Space changed my life. 

Nerd note: Bachelard’s Poetics of Space changed my life. 

Source: ohinsomnia

Bromley Blazer by Rag & Bone Summers in Philadelphia can be tough. It gets hot and it gets HUMID. In August it can feel like you’re swimming through air.  To stay alive, and to keep those around me alive since heat induced grouchiness can make me want to go on a killing spree, I’ve had to educate myself a bit on summer friendly fabrics.  Cotton is the no-brainer go-to. It breathes, it’s comfy and it’s relatively easy to find clothes made of cotton. Any blend that is mostly cotton is usually a safe bet too, especially if it’s blended with an equally hot temperature friendly fabric—the above blazer, for example, is a blend of cotton and linen. That blend in particular is a nice compromise since, even though linen is a happy summer fabric, you so much as sit down in pure linen and the fabric throws a bitch fit and wrinkles to high-hell.  You should avoid, at all costs, polyester, poly blends and silk. Silk is a bit of a fake-out. It seems like it would be a summer fabric since it’s so light weight and cool to the touch, but silk doesn’t breath. At all. In direct sunlight you’ll be baking. It’s only May and it was 80-some degrees in Philly last week. It’s only downhill from here. Stay frosty, kids!

Bromley Blazer by Rag & Bone

Summers in Philadelphia can be tough. It gets hot and it gets HUMID. In August it can feel like you’re swimming through air. 

To stay alive, and to keep those around me alive since heat induced grouchiness can make me want to go on a killing spree, I’ve had to educate myself a bit on summer friendly fabrics. 

Cotton is the no-brainer go-to. It breathes, it’s comfy and it’s relatively easy to find clothes made of cotton. Any blend that is mostly cotton is usually a safe bet too, especially if it’s blended with an equally hot temperature friendly fabric—the above blazer, for example, is a blend of cotton and linen. That blend in particular is a nice compromise since, even though linen is a happy summer fabric, you so much as sit down in pure linen and the fabric throws a bitch fit and wrinkles to high-hell. 

You should avoid, at all costs, polyester, poly blends and silk. Silk is a bit of a fake-out. It seems like it would be a summer fabric since it’s so light weight and cool to the touch, but silk doesn’t breath. At all. In direct sunlight you’ll be baking.

It’s only May and it was 80-some degrees in Philly last week. It’s only downhill from here. Stay frosty, kids!

Starlit Nights

My lovely friend Melissa just radiates class and charm. She’s the best kind of fashion and style guru—someone who is naturally gifted with a good eye and has followed that up with practical design experience and homework. If you’re at all interested in home decor, fashion, event planning and gorgeous photos of all the above, check out her blog. 

Life Post MFA

Today I’m wearing my Hufflepuff t-shirt and cleaning the bathroom while listening to the new Jack White and Garbage albums. 

I’m all glam, all the time, guys.

I also bought this dress today, from The Webster collection at Target.  It looks a bit lighter in person than in this photo. I’m normally weary of patterns that are too busy, but this dress was surprisingly flattering on me.  I’m tempted to pair this with the striped blazer I also bought today (goodBYE graduation gift money…). I’ve experimented with mixing patterns before, but they’ve always been somewhat subdued. My favorite is pairing a small gold polka dotted black tee with a black and white polka dotted pencil skirt, often with a black blazer tossed over it. Pairing the striped blazer with the patterned dress would be a bit of a leap. I’m tempted to do it, we’ll see if I’m brave enough. If I go through with it, I’ll post photos.  I think the key to mixing patterns is that there has to be SOME connection between the pieces. With my polka dotted outfit, the connection is obviously the polka dots. With the Webster dress and the GAP jacket, the connection would be color. The background of the paislies on the Webster dress is a navy blue, and my GAP jacket is grey with navy blue stripes (different than what I shared in the photo). It could be enough to allow the two patterns to harmonize.  Like I said, we’ll see. 

I also bought this dress today, from The Webster collection at Target. 

It looks a bit lighter in person than in this photo. I’m normally weary of patterns that are too busy, but this dress was surprisingly flattering on me. 

I’m tempted to pair this with the striped blazer I also bought today (goodBYE graduation gift money…). I’ve experimented with mixing patterns before, but they’ve always been somewhat subdued. My favorite is pairing a small gold polka dotted black tee with a black and white polka dotted pencil skirt, often with a black blazer tossed over it. Pairing the striped blazer with the patterned dress would be a bit of a leap. I’m tempted to do it, we’ll see if I’m brave enough. If I go through with it, I’ll post photos. 

I think the key to mixing patterns is that there has to be SOME connection between the pieces. With my polka dotted outfit, the connection is obviously the polka dots. With the Webster dress and the GAP jacket, the connection would be color. The background of the paislies on the Webster dress is a navy blue, and my GAP jacket is grey with navy blue stripes (different than what I shared in the photo). It could be enough to allow the two patterns to harmonize. 

Like I said, we’ll see. 

The blazer I bought today from the GAP.

The blazer I bought today from the GAP.

linen blazer by Raquel Allegra I spent all day, or what felt like it, in the mall with my sister today while she shopped for work appropriate dress clothes. She’s starting an internship with a restaurant company in Miami next week and the company has the strictest uniform guidelines I’ve ever seen outside of a Harry Potter book.  Suits and suit jackets are a bit of an alien being to me. I’ve grown fond of the more liberal suit jackets this year, the long lapel tuxedo style jackets I like to throw over a sleeveless dress because I hate my arms and love the tailored look the jacket adds to the outfit. I don’t quite understand the matching pants suits or the one button, three button, how long is this waist or cropped, sort of thing. I tried, for my sister’s sake, to fake my way through it today, but she is unquestionably more knowledgable in the area of Fortune 500 wear than I am.  When I broached the topic of summer blazers, made of linen of cotton, my sister went apoplectic. She didn’t understand it. How was that cooler than a regular blazer? The whole thing confused her.  I don’t share my sister’s objections, I don’t mind a good blazer in a lighter or more oddball material. Today I bought a striped blazer from the GAP in a heavy cotton. I’ve tried something similar on before and didn’t like it, but this newer one worked for me. I think the trick with this sort of thing is the jacket has to fit well. It should be as tailored as possible, or else, given the light material, it’s easy for the jacket to look flimsy or hang weird, like a too-heavy cardigan that someone stretched out and snapped back.  More blazers in summer-friendly materials to come this week to go along with the upheaval of my wardrobe to match the coming hot temperatures. 

linen blazer by Raquel Allegra

I spent all day, or what felt like it, in the mall with my sister today while she shopped for work appropriate dress clothes. She’s starting an internship with a restaurant company in Miami next week and the company has the strictest uniform guidelines I’ve ever seen outside of a Harry Potter book. 

Suits and suit jackets are a bit of an alien being to me. I’ve grown fond of the more liberal suit jackets this year, the long lapel tuxedo style jackets I like to throw over a sleeveless dress because I hate my arms and love the tailored look the jacket adds to the outfit. I don’t quite understand the matching pants suits or the one button, three button, how long is this waist or cropped, sort of thing. I tried, for my sister’s sake, to fake my way through it today, but she is unquestionably more knowledgable in the area of Fortune 500 wear than I am. 

When I broached the topic of summer blazers, made of linen of cotton, my sister went apoplectic. She didn’t understand it. How was that cooler than a regular blazer? The whole thing confused her. 

I don’t share my sister’s objections, I don’t mind a good blazer in a lighter or more oddball material. Today I bought a striped blazer from the GAP in a heavy cotton. I’ve tried something similar on before and didn’t like it, but this newer one worked for me. I think the trick with this sort of thing is the jacket has to fit well. It should be as tailored as possible, or else, given the light material, it’s easy for the jacket to look flimsy or hang weird, like a too-heavy cardigan that someone stretched out and snapped back. 

More blazers in summer-friendly materials to come this week to go along with the upheaval of my wardrobe to match the coming hot temperatures.