hey there, you with the stars in your eyes

Pictures from my grandparents' wedding in 1959. Don't they look lovely? Today is their 51st anniversary, and also my grandmother's 74th birthday! Yes, all of that on Halloween. I have more pictures that I'd love to share, but I've reached my upload limit on Flickr this month. These are some of my favorites, though. Love you, Grandma and Poppy!

mike, molly and marie claire

I often wonder at the identity of my blog. Sometimes I think I haven't found it, other times I think it's not something that needs to be found. A blog - or at least this blog - is an extension of its author. If the author wants to take a break from being an author and create visually-inspiring entries with less emphasis on text before turning around and publishing an editorial-style entry, that's her prerogative, isn't it? That's why I feel comfortable brandishing my diversity with posts like Miu Miu by Kris Atomic and Friend Friday: Shapes and Sizes. That's also why I'm here with a few words about the now-infamous blog entry by Maura Kelly for Marie Claire, Should "Fatties" Get a Room? (Even on TV?). If you've missed this bit of weight-centric drama, I'll explain: Kelly was asked by her editor to write a post on the subject of plus-size actors on television. What resulted could be considered an attack on obese people by a woman suffering from anorexia and a blatant obsession with being thin. Kelly targeted CBS's new hit comedy Mike and Molly, which stars Billy Gardell and Melissa McCarthy as overweight Chicagoans who meet and fall in love at Overeater's Anonymous. My mom and I watched the pilot, both ecstatic about seeing our dear Melissa McCarthy in a starring role after such hilarious and charming pursuits as Sookie St. James on Gilmore Girls and Dena on Samantha Who?. Neither of us could get invested in the comedic tone of Mike and Molly, but it was certainly not for lack of trying on the part of the leads.



In regard to Kelly's article, Sharon Osbourne has spoken out about it, along with a legion of angry readers via Twitter, Facebook, the blogging world and in comments on the original post which have built up to almost 3,000. Kelly has since issued an apology - you can read that at the end of her original post. In my opinion, however, no apology will ever be sufficient for things like this:

Yes, anorexia is sick, but at least some slim models are simply naturally skinny. No one who is as fat as Mike and Molly can be healthy. And obesity is costing our country far more in terms of all the related health problems we are paying for, by way of our insurance, than any other health problem, even cancer.

So anyway, yes, I think I'd be grossed out if I had to watch two characters with rolls and rolls of fat kissing each other ... because I'd be grossed out if I had to watch them doing anything. To be brutally honest, even in real life, I find it aesthetically displeasing to watch a very, very fat person simply walk across a room — just like I'd find it distressing if I saw a very drunk person stumbling across a bar or a heroine addict slumping in a chair.

...I think obesity is something that most people have a ton of control over. It's something they can change, if only they put their minds to it.

The average reader of Marie Claire is thirty years old (source), but it's still Maura Kelly's job as an author to evaluate her writing and thoroughly understand the influence it will have on its audience. Let's face it, there's no age-limit on being impressionable. Even adults can be swayed into believing one thing or another by the media. The first paragraph could easily influence a woman into believing that Kelly thinks being anorexic is okay because it's less expensive, or that there's no such thing as a naturally heavy person. Wording like this, whatever her intention, is very badly done. As to the second paragraph, the fact that anyone could possibly form those words in their mind, translate them to print and not for a moment entertain that they could be in any way offensive is perfect proof of how insensitive our society has become. Again, I fault Kelly as a writer for having such flippant regard for the way her words will be interpreted. My own personal interpretation of them was grossly negative and I was left wondering how someone with such little regard for language - nevermind someone who freely expresses such unhelpful opinions as these - could possibly have a career as a writer. Her obvious disgust at the idea of obese people "kissing", waking across a room or simply "doing anything" reeks of unhealthy body image issues and encourages the reader to notice and judge the appearance of others. I'm of the opinion that a person's weight is their own business and if an obese person makes a decision to be healthier there are specialists to help and discuss that. Our business ought to be to accept the people we share this world with. Publications like Maura Kelly's are throwing the acceptance process into complete reverse and society is impressionable enough to follow their trend. There may be a high obesity rate in this country, but low self-esteem is an epidemic.

While I'm disappointed in the author of the offending article, I also need to express my outright anger at the editor who first presented this topic to a woman with pre-established weight issues and who allowed its publication online.


Regardless of your opinions on weight-related issues, just look at those faces! Melissa is without question one of the perkiest, sweetest, most dazzling women on television right now. I don't understand how anyone could not enjoy watching her.
Mike and Molly co-star Swoosie Kurtz said of the show, "I think it will help people to feel not so alone. We all kind of build these little self-imposed prisons of loneliness for ourselves because of our feelings of inadequacy and insecurity." I agree wholeheartedly with this, and I applaud Melissa, Billy, the cast, crew and the CBS execs for giving this approach a chance.

This brings me to a few other posts I'd like to share which cover subjects relating in some ways to the ones above...


Beautifully Invisible: Can't we all just be Fashionistas?
The stimulating and anonymous Beautifully Invisible approaches the many words that stereotype fashion bloggers - "Plus size", "Curvy", "Fatshionista" - and voices her own opinion on the size issue in the fashion blogging world.



Grit and Glamour: Why I'm Not on Weardrobe, Chictopia, Lookbook or Hypeed
V of Grit and Glamour is the author of many inspiring posts (as are all the ladies I'm mentioning here - with the exception, perhaps, of the very first: Miss Kelly). In this particular piece V boldly acknowledges the favoritism and stereotyping issues of social fashion Web sites. The opinions she gives voice to in this post are some that I share in quite passionately.


ArtFashion: Friday Parade: The Fashion blogosphere - Is hate the new trend?
On a slightly different topic, Bere of ArtFashion has started a revolution to end the hate that has long gone uncontested in the fashion blogging world. She speaks out against those who create blogs for the sole purpose of "bashing" fashion bloggers and encourages everyone reading to embrace kindness. A must-read, as these all are.

I hope this post has been in some way beneficial to you, dear reader. If you're still with me, thank you very much for devoting a bit of your time to such prominent and challenging issues. I hope we can all work to change the negative perspectives that manage to suffocate the creative, unique and independent artists online.

get back in your book

Get Back in Your Book, a set of photographs in which characters from beloved novels escape into our world (by Lissy Elle). This is one of my favorite Flickr sets. Can you guess who the characters are? If not, a simple mouse-over should reveal their names - or just click each image to be taken to the Flickr page for all of Lissy's commentary and info. I love the idea of characters from books coming to life, it reminds me of Cornelia Funke's wonderful Inkheart and its sequels. Which characters from your favorite novels would you like to see come to life?

Anyway, I'm back from visiting my sister (who, by the way, happens to have dazzling footwork). After a small holiday from blogging I've found myself to be quite inspired with lots of new ideas for themes and a post series or two that I'm excited to start soon. I even have a very thrilling something-something coming up with one of my favorite bloggers - it's going to be amazing! I can't wait to share these things with you all. Stay tuned!

bon voyage!

(image source)
I'm off to visit my sister! Back to the world of blogging next week, but in the meantime you can catch me on Twitter. I hope you all have a delightful weekend! xo

wishpot wednesday: frankie, frills and forever 21

Frankie Magazine 12 Month (6 Issue) Subscription; $112.07, magnation.com
I've been in love with this magazine for about two years now, and I've never read an issue. It's difficult to justify that price for only six issues, however magical I'm sure they are. I'd like to begin a mission of trolling eBay for old issues and start building up a collection, but to have new issues delivered to my door would be sunshine, too. I love that they, for the most part, use unknown models on their covers (which also aren't riddled with ridiculous text) and that the contents seem to be a delightful, positive, lovely concoction of all things vintage, silly, romantic and whimsical. What's not to love?


Frankie Diary 2011; #33, magnation.com
In proper Frankie fan fashion, how can I not want the new 2011 Frankie diary as well? (And the cookbook, and the photo book, but we'll save those for another Wishpot Wednesday.)


Quilted Drawstring Shoulder Bag; $25.80, Forever 21
I owe this and the following find to Jen's wonderful Fabulous Finds: Accessories post on SHE last week. I'm obsessing over quilted bags right now, and this one seems a bit reminiscent of Alexander Wang, doesn't it? Love the color, love the style, love the studs. So much fun!


Lace Gloves; $3.80, Forever 21
I don't know that I would actually use these, but obviously they play to my inner Austen heroine. How is an old-fashioned girl supposed to pass up something like that? Do any of you have suggestions on how to - pardon the Tim Gunnism - make it work?


Fan Ring; $5.80, Forever 21
At first I thought this looked like a mermaid's tail, which would be pretty cool in its own right. But when I took a good look and realized it was a replica of a classic fan - - hello again, dear old rococo/Marie Antoinette obsession!


Large Faceted Ring; $3.80, Forever 21
I really don't have a statement ring like this. I love the detailing on the side of this one.



Sweet Hair Pins; $2.50, Forever 21
How cute are these?! I think I'd want two sets so I could use them as matching bows either on each side or the same side of my hair. Wouldn't they be cute stuck into a braid?

That's all for this week's Wishpot Wednesday. What have you all been wishing for lately?

_______________________________

Wishpot.com is an easy-to-use site that lets you create an online wishlist from products you find all over the web. A button added on to your browser lets you add to your Wishpot as you shop. Check it out, and feel free to add me as a friend!

little book of quotes

My mom recently gave me this little Paris notebook to keep my favorite quotes in! Isn't it cute? I mentioned a few of my favorite quotes before, but here are some others...

"Keep me up till five only because all your stars
are out, and for no other reason."
- J.D. Salinger (Seymour: An Introduction)

"Every portrait that is painted with feeling
is a portrait of the artist, not of the sitter."
- Oscar Wilde

"We have all a better guide in ourselves, if we
would attend to it, than any other person can be."
- Jane Austen (Mansfield Park)

"Sometimes you wake up. Sometimes the fall kills you.
And sometimes, when you fall, you fly."
- Neil Gaiman

"I realize that most of us live on the skin - on the surface - without appreciating just how wonderful it is simply to be alive at all."
- Audrey Hepburn

"Remember, remember. This is now, and now, and now. Live it, feel it, cling to it. I want to become acutely aware of all I’ve taken for granted"
- Sylvia Plath

"Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you."
- Lao Tzu

If you have any favorites I'd love to know them. I always enjoy finding new quotes. They can be so inspiring, and I often find myself remembering them right when I need them. I'm excited to fill up the notebook, but also a little nervous because my handwriting is...well, quite bad, really. Ha!

write about love and the little things

Belle and Sebastian featuring Carey Mulligan - Write About Love
A few weeks ago I posted a little Carey Mulligan lovefest on SHE which gave a few pictorial examples of how impossible it is to do anything but adore her. Now, after hearing her lend her honey sweet vocals to the title track from the new Belle and Sebastian album Write About Love, my Carey appreciation has just about tripled. This is the perfect song for her, so bouncy and cute. I always love Belle and Sebastian, but this new album may be my favorite. It's quite easy to listen to, very comfortable playing in the background as you sip some coffee and read your blogroll. I very much recommend it, but especially this song for Carey's super-cute contribution!



Also, I was invited by the lovely Ashleigh of Little Girl, Big World to contribute a guest post to her new series "It's the Little Things", about life's little moments that mean the most to us. I chose to talk about one of my favorite fall memories. Check it out here and be sure to follow Ashleigh's beautiful blog if you hadn't been already!

etsy love: cinderbella's

Shop Cinderbella's on Etsy
I'm quite excited to spread the word about a brand new mother-daughter Etsy shop, Cinderbella's! Gabrielle of Pink Tuesdays created Cinderbella's with her mother as a place to house their handmade and vintage-inspired jewelry and accessories. The items they've launched the shop with are absolutely divine; I love the Sasha Silver Rose Necklace and the Gypsy Bella Earrings especially! And isn't it fun to know it's the work of a mother-daughter team? Do be sure to check out their shop. You can also follow Cinderbella's on Twitter and Facebook. I just love Etsy for giving talented craftswomen a way to market their products to such a large audience.

If you have any favorite Etsy shops I'd love to see some links. I hope everyone is having a delightful weekend!

kathy flats and weekend reads

My new Kathy Van Zeeland flats! I'm a huge Kathy fan, I have at least five of her handbags, so of course I was thrilled when she launched a line of shoes. I was surprised (delighted, ecstatic, etc.) to find these darling little things at Marshalls on Wednesday - and equally delighted, ecstatic, etc. when my lovely mom bought them for me! I wore them today for our Barnes-and-Noble-and-Pumpkin-Spice-Lattes outing which we weren't able to fit into our Wednesday plan. We spent at least two hours there looking at books - it was quite divine.

I'm behind in my blog reading this week, for which I'm terribly sorry - I love reading my blogroll! - but here are a few (okay, quite a few) posts I enjoyed over the week...

• A Spot of Whimsy did a marvelous post about Neil Gaiman's books, all of which I want to read.
• Following Kendra's adventures in London has been terrific escapist fun for my Anglophile self.
• Britta of Forelsket is reading Pride and Prejudice and sharing her thoughts, love it.
• Everyone loves Florence + the Machine; iloveyouvalentine muses on the meaning of Cosmic Love.
• Great bold make-up at designer Yves Camingue's SCUAVE, thanks to Sweet of Pens and Lens!
• Kendra also wrote a fabulous piece about Michael Redgrave at her Vivien & Larry Blog.
• She's also doing a 30 Days of Vivien Leigh meme, so be sure to follow that.
• A trip to Italy via Fairy Tales are True and the lovely Letters to Juliet.
• Do blondes have more fun? Cafe Bellini ponders the idea, and shares a rather interesting map.
• The Layered Pancake's beautiful post on masquerades left me singing Phantom of the Opera, ha!
• Given the above picture, obviously I loved Jen's fabulous post about flats on Her Waise Choice!
• City Girl Diaries (EC1) talks about one of my favorite Frenchmen, the remarkable Guillaume Canet.
• Absolutely adore thee Halloween-themed Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch.
• Polaroid Coasters at Daydream Lily, what's not to love about that idea?
• Smitten Kitchen's Roasted Eggplant Soup looks utterly divine and perfect for the season.
• The English Muse posted about The Secret Writings of Marilyn Monroe. I definitely want that book!
• My dear friend and SHE co-writer Jen posted about You've Got Mail on her personal blog. Favorite!
• Lots of spectacular Mexican art and culture in ArtFashion's weekly MegaLove.

And here are a few quick links outside of the blogosphere that I wanted to share as well...
• My awesome friend Cindy made a lovely October mix, which you can listen to right here on 8tracks.
• The new issue of Lonny Magazine is out and absolutely gorgeous-looking.
• Shameless self-appreciation: Independent Fashion Bloggers included my guest post for Beautifully Invisible in their weekly link round-up!

wishpot wednesday: threadsence

I'm so excited about this week's Wishpot Wednesday! A few days ago yet another Facebook ad caught my eye (The Layered Pancake was right in one of her recent comments - you can find so many great things through Facebook ads!). This one happened to be an ad for Threadsence, a fabulous online boutique that carries many designers you might know - such as Blowfish shoes and Costa Blanca apparel. Love!


Safari Cargo Tunic, $45
I'm not really one for the military trend; I love the look on others, but I never entertained that I could pull it off. Still, I thought this tunic was charming! I was inspired the moment I saw it.


Pocket Tank Dress, $32 $22 (sale!)
Despite that it's labeled as a dress I love the way they styled it on the site with skinny jeans/jeggings, a boyfriend jacket and a big scarf. Such an artsy look. I'm always looking for new things to pair with leggings - because, oh my gosh, leggings! They're pants (kind of) and they're comfortable. That concept translates to sheer and utter genius. (However, I so don't get behind the whole cropped-top-with-leggings thing. We'll just skip past that entire ordeal.)


Plaid Flannel Dress $33 $23 (sale!)
Put on a Bon Iver record, we're bringing out the plaid flannel! I love everything about this dress. Plaid is comforting to me in a way. I think it can be made to be quite fun. I love the shape of this dress, it's very un-plaid-like. The neckline, the belted waist and the big buttons all add a lot of character to it. The neckline even makes it a bit chic, no? Paired with black leggings, kitten heels, sky-high hair ala Amy Winehouse and a bit of the winged eyeliner look. It could be fun!


Empire Bubble Dress $31
I'm a sucker for an empire waist. In style, out of style, I really don't let that effect how I look at my beloved empire waists. They flatter my shape and they're quaintly romantic. And this one is combined with a bubble! I love the unexpected marriage. One could even toughen it up with a leather jacket, perhaps?


Oversized Dolman Blouse, $35
I love dolman tops. There's so much character packed into this one. I think it would look darling paired with something high-waisted like those amazing red pants from ADAM's spring collection.


Double Breasted Coat $68 $54 (sale!)
Really? Just look at that neckline! What is there not to fall in love with about this jacket? The oversized buttons, classic belt, beautifully overstated color. It actually reminds me of one I saw Marilyn wearing in an old photo once upon a time.


Pewter Bow Ring, $10
I only had a quick moment to peruse the jewelry, but this ring caught my eye. I love little bow rings like this, they offer a bit of whimsy while still maintaining the rustic element of the pewter.


Take a peak at Threadsence if you haven't yet. As for me, we've finally got a proper autumn day so I'm off to hang out at Barnes & Noble with a Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks. Cheers!

_______________________________

Wishpot.com is an easy-to-use site that lets you create an online wishlist from products you find all over the web. A button added on to your browser lets you add to your Wishpot as you shop. Check it out, and feel free to add me as a friend!

blogger's block, sean stiegemeier and a guest post

Have you ever had an "off" blogging day when you can't seem to come up with a scratch of creative content nor the ability to write even a moderately entertaining post? I never post out of obligation, but sometimes my desire to blog doesn't coincide with my ability. Shall we call this Blogger's Block? When I'm in a rut like that I Stumble. I'm hooked on Stumbling! There never seems to be a lack of inspiration out there on the web, and it doesn't take long for me to Stumble upon something that I can't wait to share.










Sean Stiegemeier is the creator of music videos unlike any I've seen before. His quiet genius behind a camera is nothing short of astounding. He must have some sort of spiritual connection to nature because somehow his videos reacquaint you with the beauty of this wonderful planet. These pictures barely do his videos justice.


Stomacher - Untitled/Dark Divider

This video was created for the band Stomacher, whose music seems to be the perfect audio companion to Sean Stiegemeier's fascinating imagery. If you like the song, Stomacher is offering their album free for download over here! Also check out Sean Stiegemeier's other videos on his Vimeo account, especially Iceland, Eyjafjallajökull - May 1st and 2nd, 2010 which pairs more stunning landscape time-lapse footage with the ethereal music of Jónsi.

While we're somewhat on the topic of photography here, I'm so excited to share this next link with you: I was invited to do a guest post at one of my favorite blogs, Beautifully Invisible! It's just a little bit of me going on (and on and on) about why I love fashion photography and the photographers who capture my interest the most. If you're not yet following Beautifully Invisible I can only tell you to hurry up and remedy that. Her blog is so insightful, educating and always a fantastic experience. I still can't believe she let me do a post!