Sunday, July 31, 2011

a tale of tulle pretty's

i really like tulle. perhaps it's 'cuz secretly when i was younger i wanted to be a ballerina. however that desire apparently wasn't too strong to defeat the super self-conscious part of me that couldn't bear the thought of having to don on the danskins and tutu. but now that i'm older, it doesn't bother me too much being shorter and squattier than most. tulle is too much fun! makes me feel real girlie. 
photos by silly blahgs
i had purchased a black tulle dress with a light rosy cream top a few months ago for only $18 at the gap. had to have alteration peeps sew some belt loops in since it was one of those "let's-hang-real-low-below-the-hips" dresses. still searching for a better cardi, but for now my vera wang {for shorties at kohl's} ruffle cardi will suffice, as well as my denim gap button down.

latest tulle-ified buy is a cream number with a lacy non-racy top. it needed to be waist-cinched, so this stretchy belt with happy flower details decided to tag along. i like it topped off with the green blooming lattice garden cardi by field flower. tried it also with the denim gap shirt and a belt i got when visiting cali bff.

liking the lighter colored one better, only because the black dress hits the hips in all the self-conscious "shakira says that hips don't lie" places. but the long suppressed inner ballerina must get its tutu day. so bippity boppity boo! i'm just gonna hippity hoppity too.

Saturday, July 30, 2011

half-monte'd


delectably and gratefully consumed munch-a-lunch by silly blahgs
tried out a new place with my buddy, lou. sage garden cafe. ahhhh fresh bread on my lovely half monte cristo with happy raspberry jam, yummy creamy broccoli salad, and slightly disappointing boo-hoo's in the taste of the couscous.

nonetheless, i put down my utensils and napkin feeling loopy droopy belly full of bliss.

sad to report though, gourmet cupcake of the week was m.i.a.

after those words dropped from our sweet waitress's lips, i truly felt a slight dip into despairland. what? no dessert? woe is i.

so lou, my sweety bird heels, and i ventured down the hill next door to the nursery shop and found on clearance a teaposy blooming tea box {i got the "heart of love"} on sale, which i can't wait to try.

additionally during my wandering, i saw this splendid card that spoke to me. it said "buy me!" to which i replied, "i would love to splendid card, but i'd rather save my $3.99 for when the gourmet cupcake of the week returns. but i truly appreciate your message, and i shall be sure to share it with the entire world {or at least my 7 BLAHg followers}!"

image from compendium incorporated 
p.s.
apologies i've left you BLAHg-less for a few days. norman as been in the shop. and i've been having blogpress mess.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Friday, July 22, 2011

bamboo-zled

it was early 2008, and mister was returning from his afghanistan tour. i was looking for convertible clothing for our st. lucia getaway. i didn't believe in checking in baggage even back then. since minimal packing has always been a must for me, looking for light packing attire was top on my list. that is when i first discovered the wonderful fabric of bamboo and other eco-friendly fashion.


• ANGELROX •
let me start off by saying i simply adore the charming and sweet roxi suger. i have been shopping with her on and off for some years now. we correspond here and there, not always on a business level. she tells me stories about her son cotton. i share my crazy dogs' escapades and shenanigans. i even gave one of my dog books for baby cotton when we first started our online friendship {she calls me silly angel, and i call her foxi roxi}. always willing to give me advice on my purchases, this extremely talented gem is also a professor at parsons school of design. she exceeds excellent customer service, and the fabric of her eco-fashion pieces is phenomenal! my favorite item is the briefs because unlike some other britches, these don't go halfway up my back, and they are also not so low that-- well, what's the point? they are just goldilocks fittin' right. the gorgeous detailing of angel wings is adorable. her denim line are meant for women to wear all stages of life--very reminiscent of maternity jeans with the stretchy waistband {which might i add, shouldn't just be enjoyed by pregnant women}. my last purchase of the reversible halter/shrug is very cool, very versatile. and her girly wrap is a great length for the shorties. when you look through the customer images {which she sweetly calls angels, muses, and guides} on her web site, there is an ethereal airy calmness of natural and easy beauty that just takes your breath away. the photos make you want to buy from her, so you can be an angel, muse, and guide too. she even offers tutorial youtube videos. recently, she told me about her latest demo videos on vimeo, which are heaven sent for the girl who has trouble executing the looks from still shots or step by step written instructions. the flash side of her web site lists some powerful messages: we're all angels; life is a gift; beauty surrounds; peace within; seek balance; and radiate joy. her tagline is "may peace prevail." if you ever get the chance to get to know roxi, you know that it already does.


• TRANQUILIT 
during that same convertible clothing search entered another lucky bamboo find. the amazingly multi-tasking and always sparkling kimberly wilson. i have several tranquiliT items in my closet, including an unbelievably oozy smooth, figure forgiving jumpsuit. along with angelrox, tranquiliT is part of my growing "go to" list of places for utterly buttery comfy quality fashion. kimberly set out to create clothing that could go from the yoga mat to the rest of your day/night, and she has succeeded. if you check out her web site, it's hard to wrap your head around how she manages her daily in's and out's. her schedule is so jam-packed, yet she makes time to respond when e-mailed about questions, concerns, or anything in between. she's always been a doll with me, and her approachability really sets her apart. with every purchase, she includes a little something special, like a tea bag. i truly feel bliss when i receive the package in the mail addressed to "beautiful priscilla." i've read both of her books {the first on that st. lucia trip}, and took an e-course based off her latest, tranquilista. it really helped jumpstart me into this new wonderful stage in life, as well as introduced me to a new friend that i communicate with via e-mail. when you come in contact with kimberly, magic happens. you feel more at peace by joining in on her infectious love of yoga, and you feel the woman empowerment that she evokes through her passionate motivation to keep going and going. for me, kimberly was definitely a driving force, in igniting the fire to actively pursue my freelance career, as well as starting this blog that i've been putting off. she makes you feel like you can have it all and that you can do it all. she definitely sets an example for the entrepreneurial creative girl.

 MOHOP • 

the photos on annie's web site are way better than anything i could show, so i'm opting out on the self photos this time and sending you directly to her gallery.

awesome discovery #3 was annie mohop and her marvelous handmade wooden shoes. the best thing ever for the girl who wants comfort, uniqueness, and versatility for her feet. perfect for packing light! yet again, i lucked out with meeting another talented darling who made sure that i felt like i was her #1 customer. annie and i communicated back and forth a lot during the production of my order that i soon felt like i was just chitchatting with a girlfriend. i made her an xmas card similar to the style of my dog books–– with me holding my mohops and my dogs playing with the ribbons in the background. she said that she liked it so much that she hung it up in her studio. and she tells me, to this day, it is still hangs in the studio, right on the door of the "ribbon room." annie even sent me a beautiful handmade wooden bracelet, an idea she was tinkering around with. i love the shoes and have three pair, two of which are no longer in production. they were such a big hit that one of my friends and my sister-in-law made purchases too. besides a ready to wear line, a second collection was started where the wood bases are carved abroad (still in an eco-friendly, ethical manner). the shoes are then assembled in annie's chicago studio. both are produced with sustainably-sourced, recycled, and/or fair-trade materials. annie's background is architecture, and you can easily see her product is well-constructed and well worth the money. with all of the endless possibilities with these shoes, you really don't need any other pair. and you can almost guarantee that you won't run into someone with the same look as you. in fact, it wasn't until years later that i started making non-mohop footwear purchases again. although i always keep looking back at my mohops, thinking i need to add maybe just one more pair.


--
in the end, i really outdid myself at simplifying my vacay packing for our trip. among my minimalistic carry-on goods were a few eco-friendly choices, including a pair of mohops and some pieces of bamboo-cottoned fashion. the use of space bags and eagle creek pack-it system did wonders as well. i took a small north face backpack and a mini reisenthel shopper as my personal/beach bag.  mister's backpack barely zipped shut, and i suddenly really felt bamboozled when he told me earlier he'd take only one bag too. but no worries! i pride myself in being an awesome packer and i was able to help him pare down.
  
too bad roxi, kimberly, and annie don't do menswear... yet :) 

Thursday, July 21, 2011

giddy? yup! NKOTBSB

giddy? yup!
{things that make me giggly joyous}

yes, of course, there is much in life that makes me especially glee-ful! but today "the octo giddy" goes to...

joey, jonathan, jordan,
donnie, danny, brian,
howie, and a.j.*

louisville nkotbsb photos by
mister {you-could've-taken-one-of-your-friends-to-the-concert-instead}

hi-five's to the mister for keeping in mind i've gone to two kid rock concerts.

was a squealing giddy of a concert and even got upgraded to lower level by left of stage from nosebleed section. unbelievable! more details of the concert will come in form of a regular post :) just wanna give my eardrums time to stop ringing and my mind time to start dreaming of boy bands singing me to slumber!

by the way, in case you were wondering, yes, nkotbsb does stand for "no kissing on these boys. silly's bummed." you're welcome, mister.

*nick carter does not impress me, so that's why i'm giving out only eight giddy's this eve.

Monday, July 18, 2011

popcorn

i always wanted to go into the greeting card business. initially because of my writing background, but then i decided i needed to incorporate the visual aspect as well. i have been creating custom cards for a while for (and to) family and friends: birthdays, anniversaries, just because, congrats, welcoming baby... etc. 


i got on a serious greeting card kick a while back and started coming up with some random generic cards. came across my old files today and thought i'd share. these are inspired by my love of movies and my imagery interpretation of some famous cinematic quotes.


so call orville to break out the redenbacher, sit back, and enjoy a show-- full of intrigue, mystery, comedy, romance, suspense, and drama. i promise, it'll be the feel good post of the day.



curtains close.
fade to black.
and as snagglepuss would say, "exit, stage left."

Sunday, July 17, 2011

discovery

i got up early after my "let us out" doggie alarm clock went off. while mattie and bauer decided to go back into our bedroom to keep mister company in slumberville, "no-sleep-till-brooklyn" bentley sat on my lap while i surfed the web in my office. the silence of the so-called sleep deprived inspired me to do some research. that's when i came across this article:
Beauty rest, getting enough? If not, you might be looking a bit less attractive  
December 15, 2010 | By Mary Forgione, For the Los Angeles Times
Beauty sleep does make a difference in how you look – and how you look to others. A new study finds that people who don’t get their beauty sleep could appear to be unhealthy and unattractive.
The Swedish study published in the British Medical Journal on Tuesday measured the effects of sleep using 23 adults who were photographed before and after they were deprived of sleep. Observers then viewed randomly selected photos and rated their perceptions of the people in them.
Not surprisingly, the sleep-deprived folks got low marks on the healthy and attractive scale. Those who scrimp on sleep don’t just feel tired, they look it too, the study said. 
And you can’t make up sleep loss as quickly as you think, this Los Angeles Times story says.
So it pays to work on your beauty rest.

you, of course, knows what this all means, right?

why, it means that my mattie girl is a freakin'
bright-eyed and bushy-tailed genius! 
it's time to forget victoria's secret and discover
mattie's secret.



mattie's beauty secret {in just 5 easy steps}
step 1: find a comfortable position.

step 2: now, hold position.


 
step 3: keep holding.


step 4: next, release any tension. 

step 5: finally, just let go.  

you may either repeat steps 1-5, or remain in step 5, for the next 20-22 hours.*


*for optimal results, you must be able to 
dedicate a block 
of approximately 20-22 undisrupted hours a day for this regimen. mattie says exceeding this time frame is highly discouraged as you will miss out on daily necessities, such as eating, bathroom breaks, chasing squirrels, bullying your brothers, and being fawned over for being so beautiful, which is the whole point of practicing steps 1-5.


{note: eyes may be open or closed. mattie recommends whichever makes you most comfortable. don't overextend, just keep your limbs soft. and don't forget to breathe.}

mattie is not a certified or trained professional beauty expert, but she has
put these steps into practice successfully for over 5 years and counting {sheeps}. 

no benedryl was used in these photos by silly blahgs

Thursday, July 14, 2011

EDucation

photo by silly blahgs
learning to love horse country isn't too hard, especially when it takes you back to wonderful childhood memories.

but... it is quite disappointing when you realize not all of the horses actually communicate that way-----heeeeeeeyyyyy, whad'ya mean... they don't freakin' dance either? 

curses! foiled again by the bluegrass, which by the way isn't really blue. 


Tuesday, July 12, 2011

synchronization



it's

déjà vu

all over again.

– yogi berra

for an in-depth "how to stay in sync" video, please click here.





choreography by mattie + bentley
 photos by silly blahgs





Monday, July 11, 2011

giddy? yup! double giddy

giddy? yup!
{things that make me giggly joyous}

yes, of course, there is much in life that makes me especially glee-ful! but today "the double giddy" goes to...


and
lexscene magazine

what a lovely way to wake up on a monday morn and receive the three words every silly girl wants to hear:  
pink champagne cupcakes collage by silly creative
photos by silly blahgs
thank you, living social! and thank you, mister "you're-gonna-get-this-in-lieu-of-a-38th-birthday-burstday-cake-for-me-this-year-aren't-you?!" this is my fave local cupcake place {i may have purchased there a time or two.}... since i am no longer in the ATL vicinity of my ultimate fave in the universe cupcake place.

apparel outlet sizzling summer ad by silly creative
photo by silly blahgs
the second giddy goes to lexscene magazine. this is actually from late last night, but i decided to extend my giddiness into today :) mister and i had intended on finally seeing horrible bosses last night, but unfortunately it was sold out, so as consolation prize we went to stuff our horrible bellies at dinner instead. when we were leaving the restaurant, i happened to see an issue of lexscene, so i grabbed it. 
lo, and behold... my ad! the current issue is not online yet, but i do have this...

yeah, you might say that i've certainly got a case of the monday's. but in an awfully double-gidderiffic way.

photos by silly blahgs

reflection


bauer is my guy, my baby boy. he showed up at our house when he was only weeks old. he was the cutest thing ever, and still is. only bigger. we tease him that he's not got much going on in his noggin, but he may have us all fooled. he's that guy who doesn't say much, and sits in the corner. no, he's not the creepy quiet guy in the corner. bauey's the one that's taking everything in and just observing.
bauer is our eldest dog now, and he has much to ponder upon. the days of yesterday, the days of today, and the days of yesterday. he's not much into thinking past today actually. 
so small! first time the bff's meet.
photo by silly blahgs
my fave baby bauey pic ever
photo by silly awwwwwwwws
under this futon baby bauey discovers his "reflection pose"
photo by silly blahgs



so, today on this lazy sunday, as i myself am in a contemplative mood, i'd like to recognize my bauey and his many days of wise, deep reflection. 





photos by silly blahgs

life moves pretty fast.
if you don’t 
stop and look around 
once in a while,
you could miss it.
– ferris bueller


and quite possibly, bauey ain't really missing a thing after all.