check it

I have a small list of websites that I keep an eye on. Fashion, design or just plain shopping. One of my favorites is Wintercheck Factory. I don't check it that often because it does not change much. They offer just a few things but, they are awesome. Well, the clothes I could live without. It is the super functional accessories that really get me. Like a scarf with a zipped pocket in it for your cell phone (or a screwdriver?).

I was reminded to check back with Wintercheck because of NY Mag's gift issue. In the top right of page 78 was this:

Ahhh!! This was made for my home. But then there is this:

I could not tell you which one I like more. I LOVE them BOTH. I have a lot of orange in my life and a lot of camo; influence from an old best friend, who also taught me it was gauche to walk and smoke at the same time.

According to Wintercheck Factory:

Each available style is created from a small fabric stockpile. Sometimes less than 20 yards exist, which means quantities of the Deadquilt are very limited (2-18 quilts per print).

Ahhh! I am so tempted to forgo wine for a month just to have one.

I'm serious.

a spade is a spade

My upbringing was in an upper middle class town in Connecticut. I will admit it. This town has gone through  a huge transformation since the 70's, where a bunch of artistic hippies grew into conservative label whores. Money does that to people. Not sure why. Look at the history of Richard Hayne of Urban Outfitters. He went from building houses in Alaska, teaching the natives English, to donating a shit ton of money to Santorum. Hippies get tired of being hippies and want to make money at something, I guess-so technically they were never really hippies...

Anyway, label whores. I was in high school when Kate Spade designed her first line of handbags. Everyone had one. The girls that couldn't afford them went to Canal Street to buy fake ones. This desperate need to fit in saddened me. So, being the little deviant devil that I was, I completely ignored this company (and let's be honest, anyone that wore it). I never looked into who they were or what they were about because I thought I knew.

Then I heard whispers of them selling. I thought even worse things. Many designers have sold their souls. This is nothing new but it sort of played into what I thought of Kate Spade and co. in the first place. Complete sell outs. If you're tired of what you do, how can you sell your name, let someone else use it for profit and just walk away? I mean 59 million dollars would make it easier, for sure.

Next, I had read that Andy (who is David Spade's brother, btw) opened a design firm/storefront. I looked at the site and became utterly confused. It was cool. How was this possible?

Then, when I saw a feature of their home on The Selby, I started to wonder. Who the fuck were these people? Really?

Turns out, they're just people. Pretty smart people, actually. This interview here and here says quite a bit. I'm still not impressed that they sold out. They're no Calvin Klein, you know what I'm saying?

Even though they have nothing to do with the company whatsoever anymore, I actually went to katespade.com for the first time ever and saw things that I liked. I won't buy them but, they're ok.

 

i'm a child of...

the 80s. That is for sure. But, my formative years were in the god damn 90s.

At prom. In the 90s.

I was wearing underwear. Just so you know. I wasn't going to and the mother of my most promiscuous friend made me. Ridiculous. My inspiration? Elizabeth Hurley, of course!

So, yeah. I have updated my etsy store. 

off season

I love to shop off season. Which is never relevant to showcase. Unless there are a lot of Australians reading this. Then my off season is your on season.

Anyways. I found and bought these today.

They were mega on sale, as things are in the off season. Why buy boots that are going to sit in a closet for months? I'm nuts. That's why. Plus, Ely James gave me 'permission.' I never feel guilty about spending my money. I earned it but when Ely James looked over my shoulder and said, "Those are hot. You should get those." Then click! They were bought.

While planning this post, I found out this:

They're 'junk' apparently. Hmm. Too late now. 

My second choice were these:

There's still time. The off season does not end tomorrow!

more zombies

My love has been at this music thing for quite some time but says he is tired of being thought of as the dumb drummer. I don't know that he is actually thought of in this way, he just thinks that people do. I believe that people just think he's short a few marbles. All drummers are, right? I've always said that it's unnatural to be able to do that many things all at once.

It really comes down to a society being raised with Animal, the drummer, on our screens and in our hearts. He's crazy and not too bright but, a damn great drummer!

I think it's hard for people to realize that Ely James has the ability to do more than just hit things with sticks. It's hard for even him to realize it.

He needs to realize it. For reals. Cause this...

...is awesome!!

After this song came out, I googled 'Zombie Elevator.' Apparently, there are some Brazilians that are famous for pranking people in the elevator with zombies!

A whole other kind of awesome. It's even better with the ghost girl in the elevator.

Ahhhhhh!! Indeed.

news flash

This exists. Just thought you should know.

A singing toothbrush. Why oh why do other's not jump on this amazing branding opportunity?

Oh. They have?

Laughing my fucking ass off, indeed.

am i crazy....

or would this look really amazing painted some ridiculous color?

$50 on craigslist. Too bad it's in some weird part of PA that is 2 hours away by car.

But seriously. What color?

  

I've always dreamed of having a vanity. Odd, I know, since I barely look in a mirror. Maybe because I was raised by a woman who taught me to only wear roses on my cheeks and a little mascara, I am fascinated by the process of grooming. Or maybe it's because when a woman chooses to groom, there are so many little bits and bottles to the process that she would really fucking love a beautiful piece of furniture that she can sit at and have it all at her fingertips. She being me. Of course.

My Aunt Rachie has one kinda like this in her basement:

How about a crazy color painted vanity? Ok.

Or more modern.

Le sigh.

boost that shit

So, I have been in retail a long time. Almost 15 years. Yeah, I said it. 15 years. I started my 'career' at Gap. Notice how I did not type 'The Gap.' That is only because I am anal retentive and at some point while working there (for 7 of those 15 years. What an idiot I am, right?), the company made sure that they sent out a memo saying that there was no 'the' in front of Gap. So now as I tell this story, I will pain myself to not write 'the' in front of Gap.

Anyway, after just moving to the big bad city, I had my first experience with a booster bag. What is a booster bag, you ask? It is a bag lined in aluminum foil. You can fill it to your heart's content and alarms will not go off! Watch this video and you will understand:

Kinda love the tag line: 'now your finished go steal as much as you can.' Shoplifters cannot spell apparently, but they make more money than I do.

So, there were these ladies. Shoplifting ladies. Being shady like. The security team confronted them and they fled. Literally fled the store. They left behind their booster bag. I had never seen one before. I actually did not know they existed. I was used to my high school friends just wearing baggy clothes to Anthropology and putting layers on underneath! Oh the simple days of my youth.

Inside this booster bag was this:

An Issey Miyake top. With a receipt! I assumed they had exchanged something 'stolen' to get it but I could just be stereotyping shoplifters. Maybe they really had bought the original item and exchanged it for a $500 Issey Miyake top. Or maybe they were really rich ladies that shoplifted at Gap for fun. Like Winona Ryder.

So, after holding onto it for a very long time, I am selling it on my etsy store. ***UPDATE*** It sold! ***UPDATE OVER*** Yes, I just admitted that I did not actually ever pay for this top myself. What does that make me?

orange peanut, for me?

While I was updating my etsy page today, this popped up when I first got to the sight:

Oh yeah. It's Easter. Bunnies, Jesus and zombies.

The maker of this totally adorable coat, makes this one too:

Ahh!!! There is a tail. I love it. I miss the ease of being a kid. When you can walk around with a tail on your coat and it's cute.

This...

...is not cute.

Although, I'm sure Jesus would have thought so. He had an eye for the ladies, I think. I think he was just a man. Maybe even a shiesty man. Like this perhaps:

Should I go so far as to say a con man? I might go to hell for that, right? Whatever. I think he had good intentions. But come on. He totally took that same shit that Juliet took. The stuff that makes you seem dead. Like he was avoiding some serious loan sharks, you know what I'm saying? Then he 'wakes' up. A miracle!! Pretty clever, that Jesus.

And if he really did die and came back then he was just a freakin' zombie.

So yeah, HAPPY ZOMBIE JESUS DAY!

Totally unrelated, but reminds me of my nephews, who I'm sure totally enjoyed their Zombie Jesus Day:

busy bee is me

It has started. I was inspired by a dear friend to get off my ass. How long will it last this time? I guess it depends on if anything sells! I'm going to try this forum out and then will probably go back to etsy. Or will do etsy too...depends on how motivated I truly am.

I still have miles to go but I am going to sleep!

little ones

I do not want kids. Ever. Just putting that out there. I do happen to have 2 nephews. One I am comfortable with:

The other one, is newer, and I don't really know him at all. He doesn't know me either. The only picture I have of him is from 2 years ago:

I have no excuse. They practically live down the street. I keep telling myself that I will serve a purpose to them one day. It is just not now. I don't care about their rambles of bullshit. Yet. Heartless, I am.

'Tis the season, though. I have been looking for gifts for them. Gifts that they will receive from some lady that they call Aunt but don't know who, or what, she is really. It's hard.

Plus, I don't have any $$. Rent is being paid later and later-kind of poor. Makes things like this:

not possible:( Or this even:

Seriously. $87 for a children's book? Ok. It is illustrated by the great Paul Rand (who BTW was a mentor to my high school sweetheart's mother).

Who's Paul Rand? Um...

Not a bad person to teach you graphic design, right?

During this whole shopping for nephew thing, I really just found myself asking, 'What do kids really need anyway?' They have grandparents buying them noisy toys and movies. I guess I could make them my own book that has Auntie coupons. Like lunch with Auntie Adarae. Call xxx-xxxx to redeem. I have a feeling my phone would never ring. Hmm.

My mother beat me to this one:

Amazing.

I sort of compromised and got this for the younger one:

Still Paul Rand (pushing for an artistically creative kid here) and it visually goes with what I got his parents:

Then I thought I'd be obnoxious and get something for the older one that I can predict the look on his face when he opens it. It will say, "Really Auntie? What the heck am I gonna do with this?" 

He will be a classy man someday, if he knows how to write in cursive. I mean, I know that there will come a time where pens and things will be discontinued. I'm sure my mother will save some for him. He'll be the cool dude that has all these old things that none of the other kids have!! Mission accomplished!

Happy Holidaze!