Small Town High

I love Bellingham...now.  Though a bit of a rocky start, this small towns charm has been reassuringly singing to me soft charming songs of its devotion.  I am really really happy here.  Still the draw of the big city will always be somewhere in my heart for one simple shallow reason...  In a small town one has fewer opportunities to get dolled up like a fashionable man repelling god, for absolutely no reason.  Thus turning an otherwise blah Saturday into a street show sidewalk catwalk with like minded friends in tow and an asskicking bass line in your head that could impress a Japanese hipster.  Now I know that I could continue every weekend to put on my furs and frills, decorating myself in layers of floral and flannel.  I am just getting a bit complacent in my dressing, because I am well the ONLY person I know who does this.  Yes I am not and will not count the college girls I see dressed up in slutty tin foil.  Just because your dress was twice as much as everything I have on combined, and you are in a shinny strapless mini-dress while it is 20 degrees outside, does not mean you have figured out how to dress yourself yet.  I am not hating on these poor girls because we all have our fashion history to not repeat.  Also I do not even hang out in same establishments as these little "ladies" so even if I did consider them as fashionable I would still not find in them a fellow catwalker (not a real word).  This is why I am super excited about two things.  One it is Prom season here in Bellingham!  I am not delusional.  I know I am not in high school, and I will not be attending the prom.  I also know that if the college girls can not dress themselves how the hell and I suppose to have any faith in the high school ones!?  I can not assume all the girls here are going to also try and convince their date to dress up as Elvis and you as Priscilla in conjunction with with the oh so terrible Vegas nights themed, gold balloon laced ball.  He would not do it by the way.  I am still disappointed about that.  I would have rocked this hair!

So now I know this is a long shot, but I walk past the formal dress shop everyday and I just started thinking.  I can use the prom as an excuse to dress up.  Like new years, my birthday, Valentines day, flag day, a leap year, and Sunday funday I have another excuse to get dolled up like an over dressed Thanksgiving turkey and parade my round decorated ass through town.  Now I just need an equally overdressed, and willing to dance the night away date.  Yes I want a flower to wear around my wrist or to pin in my hair.  Even better if I can conjure up a fleet of overage dancing fools to join me on my prom night parade.  So lets think about this because I giving PLENTY of notice.  April or May?  I am serious.

Ok moving on to the second reason for my excitement.  I already have my fashion radar around this event.  Here are a few little ideas/obsessions

First off: Bright Orange Lipstick

Now with my disappointing inability to take pictures for this blog I am having to use the internets to help me with visuals.  Know this, I have bought this, and worn it, and it is beyond amazing.   

Orange Inspiration 

Starting at the top and working down.  I feel like a top hat is desperately needed in my near future.  

Inspiration #1

Inspiration #2

Oh yes Inspiration #3
"Where is fancy bred, in the heart or in the head?"

The final project 

Now working our way to the gold wrapping paper.  Also a little long hair companion never hurt  

I am not too old for this glorious fringe and gold top.  Am I?  Add orange lips/top with hat and voila 

I am torn here in this last step.  Get it...step...shoes...crickets

 So why all the planning?  What reason could I possibly have to wear such impressive folly?  Well my better half and fellow showstopper will be joining me on the streets of Seattle for a Valentines date extraordinaire.  Laurika, Dr Dog, Seattle, and  man repelling attire=two women who separated at birth, will be reunited for a week that I have been waiting for since I moved here!  Lassie I can not wait to see your face!

The snow must go on...

"Oh my god!  So this must be the first time you have ever seen real snow?!"

Oh my god!  So you must think that I only have come in contact with a more recreational form of "snow" being from Dallas and all.  Seriously I know Bellingham is but a small town of simple folk, but if I get asked this again I will mentally drop kick your face  (what type of threat were you expecting from a yogi?).  And!  So I do not have to clarify this later 1. Mom I have seen "snow" countless times but no I am not a fan of sledding  2.  My drug terms are probably laughably incorrect and 3.  I do not really think that the people here are simple, smelly but not simple.  Now I will say that I have seen a fair amount of snow before moving here, but I have yet to experience a real winter.  Never on my bucket list, but I can cross this off of the what do those poor poor people in the mountains do when it gets super shitty cold list!?  This is what winter really feels like.  I am so unprepared.  I walked around downtown last night in canvas vans.  My feet were not wet when I got home.  No no they were frozen.  They got wet when I stepped in an icy puddle, then the water froze before I reached home.  Today I pulled out my best attempt at snow shoes.  Really bad knock off doc martin 90's style boots that are so heavy my feet keep falling asleep.  Oh and I am wearing red flannel, thinking about putting on brown lipstick, walking down to the local video store, and renting Reality Bites so I can swoon over Ethan Hawke.  I know also that I have completely disregarded mentioning any of my holiday adventures.  I let the moments pass where I should have written any sort of recap, and so now I am going to just continue on with current events.  I will say that my holidays were full of what I wanted more than any furry vest, the people that I love and care for most.  Still I was happy to return to Washington, weather aside, and continue on with the path I am discovering here.  The new year has brought me a laundry list of new challenges.  All of this stylish laundry of course.  The next few months are filled with intense circus training, yoga competitions, visits from friends, deepening gratitude, and attempting forgiveness.  I hope to do it and myself justice.  All as long as my heater continues to work!

Note that this was taken from inside through a window because it is 11 degrees outside

Texas snow shoes

The snow shoes I wish I had

The snow shoes I should wish I had

Grandma knows how to stay warm

This is what I wish I could be wearing right now

This was the weather exactly this day last week and I would like this back please

  

January was a total Gentleman last night

Today I would love to point out that I am writing this blog on a Saturday at eleven am.  This is right before I go and get a pedicure (gift from my boss for Christmas) followed by a yoga class and then practicing at the circus. Le sigh life is so hard...  I bring attention to this day of the week because usually I would be at work slinging eggs for demanding hungover college kids, or if I was still in Texas all of my demanding hungover friends.  I have long been tied to the velvet handcuffs of the service industry.  I can not discount the fact that I paid my way through college getting people drunk, and it is how I met most of my bedazzled ex boyfriends.  We have had many fun times and many times I can not remember.  I have learned many things from being a waitress the main one is that I am not a fan of being a waitress.  Eight years in college, one degree in fashion, yoga teacher training, wardrobe styling gig, a giant move to Washington, one year to go before turning 30, and FINALLY I am able to say a semi farewell to the how would you like your burger cooked lifestyle.  I say semi because I am going to keep one Sunday brunch shift a week as I transition into the paycheck every other week, what is a budget, and no I do not have any cash to pay this bands cover charge, people actually do use ATMs mentality.  As of last week I am officially teaching what I truly love full time! (I have only been teaching part time if you need a recap)  Oh but wait it gets better.  I work Mon-Fri cough cough COME AGAIN!  Yes folks not only that but being a small town and smaller studio there is no such thing as a 5am yoga class nor any classes after 7pm.  I have what you might call hit the yoga studio jackpot.  I love the students, I love my fellow teachers, and wish I could just sit with my boss and his amazing wife for hours to soak up every beautiful word they speak.  They do not read this so this is not me kissing ass.  I genuinely have a deep appreciation for the opportunity that I have been given here.  I have worked so so so hard most of my short life to find something I could do with honesty as an extension of myself.  What I do and who I am are now connected.  I love that both myself and my career have reached a point where we can grow up and evolve together.  It is a cool feeling kids.  It will still be hard work but my heart is 100% invested.  2012 is one week in and I have fallen deeply for its opening line.  I can only hope that this year will continue to woo me, and since my dating life is a stand up comedy act I am asking for 2012 to continue to take me to dinner.

Here is a preview of my Texas Christmas attire and New Years Eve fluff which will come in another blog this week...Yee Haw

Tinsel Toes

Holiday dressing, and not the kind that you stuff your face with, is my number two favorite thing about this time of year!  The number one favorite is of course actually stuffing my face with dressing, though I would not want to start a blog with my gluttony just gracefully let it spill out in the second sentence.  This way I seem coy and mysterious.  Like how on first dates I attempt to not throw all of my cool kid facts out at once in a pathetic attempt to solidify a second date.  No no kids I keep calm and on the second date is where I give out those last little details of my rockstar ways and totally blow my wad in two short but always entertaining encounters.  If you do not know me personally, which if you read this regularly most likely you do and are my Mother or friend Christina, then know I am merely poking fun at myself in a half kidding/three quarters serious way.  Rein it in Burch! Seriously though I love the holiday collections!  The styles and eccentric use of sparkles and texture make me childishly giddy.  I audibly squealed in a store the other day at the site of an obvious Halloween leftover/now holiday display 1930's floor length, bias cut, backless gown, decorated with the gaudiest treasure/broach I have ever seen in person.  This is coming from someone whose favorite necklace for the past 5 years has been a 8in long metal plate cut in the shape of a mudflap pinup, may it rest in peace where ever it has fallen (fucking moving boxes! sorry Mom it happens.  By it I mean me and cussing).  In my daydreaming I have decided to become Florence for Christmas.  She suits me well bold, dramatic, and otherworldly.  How about a singalong and a wishlist?!

   

My dress shines even if your eyes do not.

  Santa PLEASE!

Or elves this is a great substitute
 Free People holiday collection  

Decorate like winter has dressed the mountain  

One can not forget the ornaments to go on top of your tree

The Wizard of Oz

I am responsible for making sure that the sun rises on schedule for the next ten days.  In return there are negotiations being made for me to change the course of rivers and dethrone the master of puppets.  Oh Mr Rob Brenzy how magnificent you make ones daily activities.  I was just going to drink coffee and do laundry.  After surviving and triumphing over the last year I feel fully capable of standing on the edge of the world making sure to bring the dawn.  I have spent now one full year doing as much as I could to expose myself and thicken my skin, all while being even more of a present and active participant in my daily decisions.  Even this blog is a major component of my uncensored experiment.  Life gave me lemons and I turned them into an entirely new plant.  Watch out kids this is a new magic I have been given.  The mechanics of it are yet to be contained.  Though it is brilliant, awkward, often hard to watch, and oh so beautifully honest.    

Brilliant, awkward, hard to watch, oh so beautifully honest

Oh last night I slept in a big blue van, in the trees, with a head full of wine, and a sweet song singing me to sleep...

Care bear stare

I can not believe Thanksgiving is here!  I am excited because I love this holiday and last years was terrible (understatement).  THIS year I am spending it with great friends I consider family and in my beautiful new home.  The weather here has been really lovely, and everyone I know is in great spirits.  It is as if we are all going through a massive communal creative exorcism.  I can feel this uncontrollable energy coming from people, even complete strangers, in as little as a glance on the sidewalks.  I am  slightly dazed by these encounters.  I always instantly feel my toes.  Like they wanted to say hello politely asking for a bit of attention.  The world is forcing me into a mindful "thankful" body.  It is fantastic!  If you too are experiencing this sensation please share it!  The next time you are walking along and a passing glance from a Mr surges through you till you wiggle your toes, regain your composure and pass it along.  As you eat your stuffing this Thursday take off your shoes/socks, and with each bite wiggle your toes in thanks!

Want a little toe wiggling fashion inspiration?  Well then here is a bit of holiday lovelies.  It is cold outside so bundle up head to toe.

Furry Hats+leather+red lips=Welcome Winter I am ready 

Wandering the woods in camo

Barbro is one of my favorite bloggers.  wiggle wiggle

You know Esotban is a bad Ass

Go Estoban Go

http://www.mikkatmarket.com/product/shearling-jacket
Wish list MUST!  It is only $88.  I will love it forever!

This is where I would keep my wishlist pretty.  Also where my toes would keep very warn and well attended   

        

Three rings on my left hand

Then wear the gold hat, if that will move her;

   If you can bounce high, bounce for her too,
Till she cry "Lover, gold-hatted, high-bouncing lover,
   I must have you!"

In the most unexpected, beautiful, difficult, and raw emotional moments of the past year I found myself calling out demanding for my bouncing lover.  He bound in strong though strangely and comfortingly androgynous.  Not a stranger completely still just interestingly familiar.  The moment I realized the depths of my attachment was while watching my lover expose himself in a brilliant balance of a sincere naive confident conquer.  I keep running the exact moment back in forth, remembering the way my whole body felt the the change, and with a slow gasp how I had to remind myself to breath.  It was one of those unforgettable moments of clarity.  Where past moments push you down with such a force you feel the weight of the fall constantly crushing.  It was with that moment and that release of breath I knew all of the pressure was gone.  Previous pains had finally been given tangible meaning.  I was exactly at the right place at the right time.  He is not who I expected to save me.  Love has its own rules to break.  He is not what you expect.  I can not take him home to meet my dad, though I can share with my dad the offerings of his affection.  He is high maintenance requiring an incredible amount of free time and hard work to improve the movements (and moments) between us.  Ok so he is not really a he.  He is actually the Bellingham Circus Guild.  Tuesday night I was finally able to attend the Guilds monthly performance.  I felt a part of something unlike anything I have ever been a part of.  Now I have only been an official member of the guild since October, but I have been practicing at the space since I moved here in June.  I am still green behind my aerialist ears and have limited interaction with most of the members.  Still there was so much emotion from being in the same space where for many many hours I have spent in personal discovery, but now I was able to see the hard work "play" off by my fellow members.  A moment of full circle honest love.

Now step right up kids and play along with the sounds and images of beauty provided below.  

Whooshy Woo