big bling 2012 / why all my friends should have style blogs

The supply of possible New Years plans seemed limitless this year, but somehow the decision was finally made to spend the eve at Stankonia Recording Studio, a cool little spot in the West End owned by none other than Atlanta's famous hip-hop duo, Outkast; The event boasted an open bar and a champagne toast at midnight, for no small fee of $35 in advance, $50 at the door. This probably had visions of Long Island Iced Teas and partying with hip hop legends dancing through our heads, but these dreams were quickly squashed. 

The bar was packed with thirsty desperate party-goers, with a selection offering no better than the grungiest of chest-hair sprouting tequila... straight up. Forget you ever learned the word "Patron" and forget about a chaser. Morale was low over by the kegs as well, where a sad ever-lengthening line resembled the DMV more than a chic Atlanta party spot. And surprise surprise, at midnight, no Moet did it rain.

It hardly mattered. I was too busy tearing up the dance floor with my bests to notice the absence of champagne. Thank goodness the music was good and I was in the best possible company! Inability to get a cab towards the wee hours even turned out to be a blessing, as we found ourselves standing directly across from Big Boi himself! What a badass. I take it as a good omen for 2012. Big Boi at least guaranteed we started our year on a high note ;)

I only took the one crappy cell phone pic at the actual event. So instead, enjoy a slew of photos from our pre-party! Isn't it ridiculous that these girls don't have their own fashion blogs?? The tall blonde in the amazing technicolor dress and the girl with the super cute braided up-do both have wonderful tumblrs you should check out. Anyone's Road and Florence Alan, respectively.

florencealan.tumblr.com

anyones-road.tumblr.com

Wearing:
Festivity blouse
Lace ruffle shorts from China
Sparkle tights from China
Wedges from Underground Atlanta
Vintage broach
Gifted bracelet
Hornet ring from Fort Myers

Big Boi also made sure to wear his gold and glitter this NYE ;) 

Christmas Island

Merry Christmas, friends! Since a lot of people have asked me about my pink ukulele in the past, I thought I'd offer the gift of song to you all for this holiday. As you'll see from the video, I am no ukulele genius, but I do have an awful lot of fun with it. So I hope you enjoy! No matter if you have a traditional or a wacky or a non-observing day, I hope it was filled with merriment. Xoxo

As you can see from our "Christmas tree" we are a family with wacky holiday traditions. We don't do egg nog and Christmas hams, but instead we go on fantastic vacations during the holidays! Normally we wouldn't even exchange gifts, but we thought it would be fun to go buy each other some tchotchke to exchange. Thanks Real Simple Magazine for providing me with my "wrapping paper" this year... go green!

For my fellow uke enthusiasts (I'm thinking of you, Linda!):
Christmas Island chords (adapted by me from those provided here).  Also, if you aren't familiar with some of the chords, use this super awesome chart that I live by.


C F C D7
(C)How’d you like to spend (F)Christ(C)mas on Christmas (D7)Island 
G G7 C
How’d you (G)like to spend your holiday (G7)way across the (C)sea 
F C D7
How’d you like to spend (F)Christ(C)mas on Christmas (D7)Island 
G G7 C C7
How’d you (G)like to hang your stocking on a (G7)great big coconut (C)tree(C7) 

F C
How’d you like to stay (F)up late like the islanders (C)do 
D7 G G7
Wait for Santa to (D7)sail in with his (G)presents in a (G7)canoe 
F C D7
How’d you like to spend (F)Christ(C)mas on Christmas (D7)Island 
G G7 C
You will (G)never stray for every day your (G7)Christmas dreams come (C)true!

the only thanksgiving dress you'll need

Nice and baggy, yet made of warm chocolate corduroy, it has to be my favorite dress. And I'm a woman of many dresses. I have to practice restraint not to wear it several times a week; It's perfect for every day, all the time, even sleeping. Feeling a little chunky, or planning to after a thanksgiving feast? Well, it's perfect for that occasion too.

This dress is one of the few not-dirt-cheap things I bought for myself in China. I did most of my shopping at places you can barter, little shops or stands where I'd spend something like 50-70RMB for a dress (7-10USD). The dress above, however, I bought in a shopping mall, at this ultra cute girlie shop called Honey. It was more like... 200RMB (30USD). I LOVED the clothes at Honey. They were always very feminine, yet kind of dust-bowl farm girl looking. Unfortunately, they were also expensive in Chinese prices. I brought home 2 pieces by them, but drooled over dozens.

Here it is in action this Thanksgiving...

          Sitting with the lovely sister                                       helping to cook by stirring that for 5 seconds. 

I hope your meals were as tasty, and your waistlines as forgiving as mine were this year! Thanks for all the comments on my last post. You lovely readers and your inspirational blogs are some of the things I counted among my blessings this holiday. <3

P.S. Does anyone know anything about Honey? I can't find a website. The tag on the dress says "Cinema Club" but all I can find in searches is this Chictopia post.

USA USA USA

I'm back from my sojourn in China, and what better season to restart my long neglected blogger blog than in the apple-pie cookout and lemonade season of July? I can't believe it's been nearly a year since last I blogged here. Living in China, blogspot services were blocked (along with lots of other nice websites many of us enjoy such as Facebook and YouTube), but that doesn't mean I was silent! I had so many adventures and there is just so much I want to say about Chinese fashion and what it's like to readjust.  If you're curious about that 10 month gap, check out the weebly blog I kept during my time in China, May Go Wren. I'm also using tumblr regularly so please follow me there!

I never lose an opportunity to go all out in theme, so naturally this 4th of July was no exception. I'm wearing old faithful cutoffs, which might be approaching the end of their lives evidenced by the slowly expanding holes including in the butt-region. Also a crop top tee that I purchased in China and slip on shoes also purchased in China. The bag is vintage macrome and fringe. I think I was going for a kind of 70s free spirit wild child kind of vibe.

I'll be honest. It's kind of hard being back. Everything is weird and different to me, somehow both the same and not quite how I left it. But I am super happy about starting a new kickass life here and getting reaquanted with all the old blogs and maybe some new ones too. If any of my readers are still out there: Thank you!

stars and stripes and outfit evolution (in reverse)

I think I'm going to be one of those embarrassing moms or kindergarten teachers who has a dress and a broach and a pair of earrings for every holiday. I love dressing in theme, and have the most fun ever preparing the right dorky outfit for the right occasion. Naturally today was Fourth of July! My camera is out of commission, but I had some fun with photobooth this gorgeous day of independence. Here's the evolution of my outfit (the top pics are the result I settled on).

I started with last year's Walmart tank, cut up and reshaped, but I didn't feel classy enough with the torn up T and shorts and braids.

I reaaaallly wanted an excuse to wear that amazing jacket I found forever ago at a thrift store.... but Atlanta in July is just not the place to pull that off. Plus I wanted that class-factor like I mentioned.

I got really happy with this old plain blue t-shirt; that with the paisley granny shorts and flats made for a sweet 50s picnic look, I thought. Plus I pinned up the french braids Heidi style. I'm using plain black sewing ribbon for a belt and my necklace is an anchor with an American flag design.

Hope everyone else looked festive and ate plenty of our national foods and mayonnaise and PBR etc.