Bootsie

Moving to Ohio and preparing for the scorching heat while also looking for new school books and boots is a strange feeling. Even though I firmly believe that school shouldn’t start until the leaves are falling and the air is cool enough where that hot morning coffee is extra wonderful; I can’t exactly change that late August start date. Beating the heat but wanting to wear sweaters and scarves is quite the predicament, so I came up with a couple outfits that let me use summer colors in both wardrobes from summer to fall. It is also my last big blog post for a while, because school makes it difficult to post as often as I would like. I hope that changes! I had a lot of fun shooting this in random spots around my home town, changing my clothes in public, running from factory workers and learning how to power wash my car in attempts to look like Mindy Kaling (we have the same shoes!!), and hanging out with my sister, Mary, who took all the photos.                   

In order of appearance:

Rainbow Shops dress, Tod’s loafers.

Syracuse Sky Chiefs hat, dress from London street market, Michael Antonio booties.

Nasty Gal shorts, UO sweater, Brewster Inn hat, Mossimo wedges.

Ray-Ban new wayfarer, Guess studded tank, London street market maxi skirt, BCBG pumps, Louis Vuitton Speedy with strap size 30.

H&M orange peplum dress, Jeffrey Campbell studded bow loafers, Louis Vuitton Speedy with strap size 30.

Rainbow Shops crop top, Gap straight khaki, Jeffrey Campbell flats, Louis Vuitton Speedy with strap size 30.

 

On Christine: Bebe Dress, Kelsi Dagger pumps.

On Me: Forever 21 shorts, BCBG Max Azria Tank, American Eagle Necklaces, H&M blazer, Steve Madden heels.

A HUGE thank you to Rachel LaClair for whom without these pictures would never be! Quite the amateur photographer 😉 All of the photos were taken with a Nikon 1 J1 in close shot proximity.

People are always counting on happiness, searching for happiness, dreaming of it, wishing for it, etc. Happiness is the infallible goal. But where does it really come from? Is it something you make for yourself or is it something you get from other things. Is it really possible to think that you could live your whole life alone and still be happy because you have that piece of mind? Or do you need to be surrounded by people and things to find it. Or is it something that you create, on your own and with other people making it a true emotion. Could it be a switch in your head that you can turn on and off, if you’re feeling sad just switch to happy? I have been on this quest for what seems like 3 years now, to find true happiness. I feel like something is missing where happiness is supposed to be. It’s not that I’m sad, it’s not that I’m depressed, I’m just not as happy as everyone else seems to be. Am I actually content and don’t realize it? Am I searching for something that I already have? I would say I am a pretty grateful person, I love my family and friends and am grateful for every single thing I have. Reading the July 2013 Vogue article featuring Katy Perry, I get excited thinking about her new album, and enjoy her banter with the author but see right through it. I don’t think she is truly happy because she lost the one person she trusted her life with. She wrote a quote saying, “I have to be happy in my own bed.” It really stuck with me. I associate my bed with pure happiness, but then I think back to all of those times I ruined those satin pillowcases with mascara. Where I spent many times cuddled up, crying my eyes out and clutching my stomach from that heartache you feel throughout your whole body. And I completely agreed with her. I have to be happy on my own to be happy in general, without people, without moving to a different place, without millions of shoes, without caffeine. My question is, how do we find it? I’m not sure what makes a bed the happiest place on earth. It has got to be the comfort it wraps you in whenever you need it. A bed is always there for you, always soft, and ready to make you comfortable. A bed is something you’d rather float along in the ocean with than a boat. (At least I have…) It’s that salted caramel hot cocoa on a cold day, that blanket of safety and security but with actual blankets. I see on the T.V. all the time those commercials that are animated, sunny, and kids are happy and smiling. They usually have an extremely upbeat song playing that you’re going to want to go and look up later because you think maybe it will cheer you up when it pops up “Shazam-ing” it. Like “Perfect Day,” by Hoku. I mean how can you not be happy thinking about the 90’s or Clueless. I don’t know, I’m rambling about beds now but basically what I’m trying to get at is I think for myself and everyone else that Katy Perry is right. In any instance, if I fall asleep happy, I should wake up happy in my bed. Your day only goes as well as the corners of your mouth curve.

Finally! It is here. This list would normally take me years to concoct, but I have been slowly but surely writing each item down when I use them or when they pop into my head in order to create it. Like Allure, except without the paid advertisements.

(in no particular order)

1. Neutrogena Clean Skin face moisturizer with SPF 15 (Finally…)

2. Clinique gloss with SPF 15 (Perfect for protection over any lipstick)

3. Witch Hazel for astringent (cheap, and natural)

4. Nivea Ultimate Moisture body lotion (For people who no matter what have extremely dry skin)

5. Shisheido Eye Creme eyeshadow (liquid texture, apply with your finger!)

6. Clinique Acne Solutions Foundation (My skin is more oily without wearing it, it actually helps vs. harms)

7. OPI Nail Laquer and Illamasqua Nail Laquer

8. Living Proof Full Thickening Cream (even if Jennifer Anniston uses it..)

9. Bumble and Bumble bb Texture (have fun in the mornings!)

10. Bulgari Au Le Blanc shower gel (You won’t need a perfume or scented body lotion after, it’s wonderful)

11. Victoria Secret Tease body spray (Spray some all over before a date, especially if you have a lot of hairspray in)

12. Colgate Optic White toothbrush (The best)

13. Gucci Guilty Travel Spray Parfum (Smell sexy on that red eye)

14. The Body Shop Tea Tree Primer (The only primer that doesn’t make my skin oily)

15. Benefit They’re Real Mascara (Because I haven’t found one that gives me lashes like this yet)

15. Revlon Red Revival lipstick (The best red you can buy at a drug store)

16. Evian Facial Spray (when you don’t have someone to playfully slap you awake and into shape)

17. Philosophy Marshmallow Body Wash, Bubble Bath and Shampoo (Mmmmmm)

18. Banana Boat Instant Bronzing Spray (Who woulda thought?)

19. Proactive Advanced Daily Oil Control (When you need a little back up..)

20. Venus Sensitive Skin disposable razors (The best disposables money can buy)

21. Dove Refresh Pomegranite deodorant (You’ll never smell bad, and it’s super soft)

22. The Body Shop Tea Tree blotting papers (Great smelling and cleans up those oil spills fast without destroying makeup)

23. Sephora Double Ended Concealer and Foundation Brush (Gets the job done, in one swoop)

24. Laura Mercier Undercover Pot Concealer (Great for when I get tanner than normal, because it gives two color options!)

26. Nars Total Replenishing Eye Cream (Haven’t been using for long, but the collagen is great)

27. Benefit What’s Up highlighter (Catch their eye ;))

28. Sephora Contour Eye Pencil 12hr Wear Waterproof (Cheaper alternative to Make Up Forever’s version, works amazing)

29. The Body Shop Kabuki Brush (discontinued)

30. Lorac Bronzer (Not shiny, stays put, comes on strong)

31. Revlon Base and Top Coat Clear Polish (Makes any home manicure last 4 days longer at least)

32. Philosophy Purity Face Wash (Gets the makeup off too!)

33. Glamglow Tingling and Exfoliating Mud Mask (before nights out) or Supermud Clearing Mask (after nights out)

34. Revlon Just Bitten Lipstain (So smooth and sexy, tastes good too!)

35. Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Hairspray (The family business! It smells good and gets the job done, I like it a lot better than L’Oreal)

36. Blue Lagoon Iceland Silica Foot and Leg Lotion (Craziest feeling in the world, especially after shaving)

37. Organix Awapuhi Ginger Shampoo and Conditioner (Or any of the others, love it!)

38. Burts Bees lip balm

39. Face Stockholm Pot Gloss (Sticky for your fingers, but it will last for years and is a great investment)

40. Peter Thomas Roth Powder Sunscreen for Oily Skin (if you don’t have time for the moisturizer, you need to wear sunscreen everyday! I think that’s why I’m already wrinkling at 20..)

A quick outfit made before dinner with my sister at a new Japanese place in Sherrill, N.Y.! Which is amazing because it’s only 2 miles down the street. (Big deal) The lighting on the trees made it look as if Autumn had arrived in early August. So exciting!

Top: vintage
Shorts: Nasty Gal
Sunnies: Ray-Ban
Shoes: Sam Edelman
Bag: Louis Vuitton (circa 2005)

Today I got the pleasure of not only stepping on the other side of the camera, out of bounds with my regular photography range, but got to shoot two of my favorite people in the entire world! To be completely fair it wasn’t hard at all; I was given the gift of extremely beautiful friends and sisters with already wonderful chemistry, and a gorgeous day in NY. I can’t explain how comforting it is to know that I have Christine and Rachel LaClair in my life. People have the ability to let you down left and right, whether it’s family members, lovers, or co workers. Even people you call your best friends. So how do you know when you’ve found the right ones? A best friend is someone who dislikes who you dislike, someone who you can always call when you’re crying, someone who will pull you out of awkward situations vs. put you in them, someone who will eat massive amounts of food with you at any given moment, someone who you can count on to make you feel better vs. worse, someone who always knows what to say, someone who genuinely has your best intentions in mind- not their own, and someone who you can call a sister. Or in my case, sisters!

On Christine: H&M dress, Dannijo shoes

On Rachel: Forever 21 dress, Jeffrey Campbell shoes

Those who know me well know that I love fringe. I love it so, so much. I don’t care if I’m pretending to be a flapper wearing an all fringe gown or a leather fringe jacket on a motorcycle, I just love it. It can be so sophisticated but still be so fun, it’s an outfit that truly does move with you. Clothes, person, and motion become one. I put together some of the my favorite fringy things that I own. Keep in mind the white outfit was really just to show the fringe jewelry off, but the white skirt is entirely fringe as well.

Earrings: Forever 21
Skirt: Nasty Gal
White shirt 1: H&M
White shirt 2: Aerie
Black shorts: Divided by H&M (from London!)
Fringe bag: AEO
Fringe clutch: AEO
Tassel sandals: AEO
Black and blue booties: Free People
Fringe booties: Forever 21
Necklace: Topshop

Ah the selfie. Terrifying or subtly traffic stopping (could be used interchangeably), gorgeous or gross, astounding or annoying. Or just always annoying. No matter how you play it out, a selfie is a selfie. Now, the many types of selfies ranging from mirror shots to “candids”, and the ever popular; reigning duck face. I am a victim of all, or should I say an enabler of all. I think selfies are misunderstood. No matter who is in them, a selfie could be considered bad because it’s a selfie. Or, normally, if you don’t like a person you’re probably not going to go “like” or “heart” anyones face that close and personal. It is what it is. One of my friends posted a status a while back that said, “if you take selfies you’re probably really insecure.” Feeling extremely insecure at that moment, selfie queen over here got a little heated. But then I realized he was absolutely correct. I truly believe that there is no one out there that can take a better picture of me than me. Chances are it could be the most beautiful picture of me possible but because I didn’t have control over where the camera got me and where the light hit I would find problems with it. There are always exceptions though. There could be that really vain girl who just likes to take a million pictures of herself. But then again that’s when everyone wants pictures of themselves, when they look good. Some are just more ready and willing to A. decide when that is and act on it and B. share it with the world even if the world doesn’t care. So, as readers and humans; you are all classified as members of the world, what do you think? Should selfies be banned forever? Should it become an actual word? (because it’s not) Webster, world, it’s up to you. For now, I am going to continue to take selfies, because I’m willing to admit I’m insecure when I’m not behind the camera that’s facing me, and because why not? There’s been no real decision on them yet. Below is a collection of selfies of outfits I took once I became healthy again in 2013, which I saved specifically for this post.

The sweet life: full of little goodies like new sandals, eating ice cream when you’re intolerant, and making strange faces on a diving board.  \
Free people sweater, Nasty Gal dress, vintage Coach bag, Dolce Vita Archer Sandal, Westward Leaning Louisiana Purchase Sunglasses.

LF skirt, H&M button down, Westward Leaning Louisiana Purchase Sunglasses, vintage Coach bag, Dolce Vita Jade sandal.

Nasty Gal shorts, H&M sweater, Westward Leaning Louisiana Purchase Sunglasses, DV by Dolce Vita sandals, vintage Coach bag.

He deserves his own post. Now, and forever.