stuff we're loving... spring 07 looks

since it's fashion week, here's some of my favorite pieces from some of the spring 2007. (i'll do fall 2007 later, there's some cool stuff, but my mind is on spring!!) a lot of the runway shows, especially couture stuff, can be really bizarre and weird - but sometimes there's some truly gorgeous pieces. sure, nobody in their right mind can actually afford this stuff, but it's great inspiration for cheaper pieces we can get on a budget :) i'm also fond of picking pieces that could actually fit and look great on girls with a real body, and real curves. curvy is coming back, and the vintage style clothes that are getting popular makes it easy to be gorgeously trendy - even if you don't look like a stick!

trends for spring: vintage/sailor; bright colors; mini dresses; white; flared/higher waist jeans; girly detailing; navy blue; grecian/goddess dresses

p.s. when i say "curvy" i'm not using a code word for "fat". i'm skinny, but i consider myself "curvy" - those sack dresses that look cute on straight-up-and-down models look terrible on me - so "curvy" means me, curvy means size 20 girls, curvy means any girl with CURVES. cut the political BS.

behnaz sarafpour
gorgeous dark sea blue/navy color, and a great neckline. would probably look far better on a girl with more curves - the cinched in waist is perfect.

betsey johnson

love the little ruffles on the torso and skirt - cute collar, too, if you're trying to be a little more cutesy and conservative

the little black dress, reimagined. perfect curvy shape with a bit of flare at the knee, and the bow is super cute.

LOVE this swimsuit! the shape is totally flattering to a girl with hips and/or a tummy, and the vintage color, polkadots, and one-piece style is definitely in right now. plus, POCKETS!

another adorable vintage-styled dress. love the teal color for spring, and the halter/fold-over collar is too cute - and classic.

blugirls
shorts are still in- and so cute here. the shirt is especially adorable, with the giant sailor bow. and navy blue is really popular.

super cute girly dress - great for a party! the neckline and ruffling is a bit sexy, and the belt keeps your curvy silhouette perfectly - so adorable.

another longer version of the dress - a little sexier, but still cute

grecian style dresses/goddess dresses are definitely back - love this silk fabric, and the way it just hangs on your body and flows when you walk. the belted style is also great for curvier girls.

cacharel
such a cute dress - love the jumper-style neckline and the classic tucked-in at the waist shape

cavalli
maybe a little boobalicious for some, but a classic dress in a gorgeous fabric

celine
a little more structured, this time, with the cuff sleeves and collar, but the little bow at the waist adds an adorable touch - easy to wear to a work meeting, but cute going out, too.

christian lacroix
similar to the above - love the square neckline and tie waist


diane von furstenburg another jumper style dress - the pockets are adorable

a classic dvf dress, great pattern, and the cuffed sleeves are dressy yet cute

ferretti
another vintage-style swimsuit, this time a lower cut neckline. but don't be afraid - there's plenty of room there for a girl with real boobs. and the way the hips are cut like boyshorts make it ultra flattering.


carolina herrera
maybe a little boxy, but the pink floral is too cute, and the collar and shoulders is reminiscent of a 40's era suit


jay mccarroll
love the off the shoulder shirt, and the shorts with heels - funky, and adorable


jeffrey sebelia
a super cute baby doll dress - the sheer over the polkadots keeps it from being too in your face (bright, as well as short!), and the lace and off the shoulder sheer makes it so sweet.

something a little bolder - the ruffled and uneven hem is really funky

monique lhuillier
a gorgeous grecian style dress - hayden paniettiere wore this to the golden globes, looking absolutely stunning.

love the ruffles - a bit victorian, and all sweet. the little belt keeps it from being too shapeless, though.

a military-styled suit - really lovely, structured, but not too gruff at the same time. looks really sleek.


marc by marc jacobs i adore this headband look, and the stripey sweater. the shorts are a bit shapeless, but overall its an adorable retro-inspired look

patterns are hot, and this one takes the work out of combining them for you. i also love the lily allen-esque sneakers and marc jacobs dress. the belted sweater is a super cute touch for the chillier days, too.

i love this classy skirt - the pleats are adorable, but the length and higher waist makes it a little less catholic-schoolgirl.


michael kors
a perfect valentine's dress - a bit sexy, a bit sweet - LOVE the ribbon tie


rock and republic
skinny jeans may not be for everyone, but the jeans and white shirt look is so classic, and there's some adorable white shirts out there for spring

tracy reese
i adore this dress. the shape is perfect, and the little tie at the neck is really the only accessory needed. plus, what a fantastic print!


verrier
a little sailor inspired - love the foldover collar and color

so sunny! perfect for those happy spring days, and an adorably young shape

the ruffles on the skirt keep it sweet, but a bit sexy in the shape, too. so perfect.

i love this structured jacket, but the sunny daisy print of the dress is too cute. and the tie front satin is the perfect touch.

y and kei
again, a little sailor inspired - a super cute, knee length, swingy spring dress. the square neck is so innocent.

i'm not totally sure i could pull this off because of the more straight, bubble dress shape, but i love the bow around the waist. plus, pockets! anything with pockets is adorable.

the importance of... being healthy

tiffie's post on the model BMI ban really made me think. as a girl who has grown up with a very health-conscious mom, eating healthy, having a healthy mentality, and being educated about health/nutrition issues has always come naturally to me. my mom is now a personal trainer and nutritionalist with her ACE and CSCS certifications, and maintains a great healthy kitchen for my family. i may not be the most in-shape - my cardio is terrible, and i don't have a visible six pack - but in my opinion being healthy isn't just about being skinny. being "skinny" isn't necessarily a bad or good thing - people call me skinny a lot, but compare me to models or actresses, and i'm hardly skinny. i'm a size 2 or 4, if we want to talk numbers, but i'm 5'3" and i weigh 116-120lbs. i'm not afraid to say that out loud, or on the internet, and i think that's the difference: my mentality. being healthy is about a good balance of height and weight; about eating foods that are good for you in the right quantities; and most importantly, understanding health and nutrition issues.

i'm not going to get into a huge discussion about society, and the pitfalls of our standards of beauty. tiffie made a good point, that some girls are naturally incredibly tiny, and don't carry fat. that's genetics - that's life. it's not fair. and a girl who eats healthily and is still a size 0, i don't think she should be banned from the runway, either. but A+ to the modeling/fashion industry for trying to bring some attention to the horrible deaths some models have suffered, and to try and do something about this issue. they're doing the best they can. frankly, as long as we as a society are showing pictures of size 0 models and letting these skeletor girls walk down the runway, we're going to have issues with girls trying to be like that. so many girls want to grow up and be actresses and models - emulating them these days can come with some serious health issues.

unfortunately, even though gisele bundchen was ridiculed for saying it, the problem really does start at home. from an early age, girls are bombarded with this image: be skinny, be sexy. if you're not skinny, you're a waste of a girl. but that's not going to change. but it's the parents who really need to pick up the slack. most girls these days don't grow up with an understanding of what to eat and why. if your mom and dad eat junk food and don't help you understand what a good healthy meal is, and pack you lunchables for lunch, you are never going to learn how to be healthy. you're never going to understand what's good for you and what's not. and most importantly, you will never learn the right mentality. you have to have that support system and you have to know why starving yourself won't make you skinny, and that you can't spot-tone and lose weight just in your hips/thighs, and why vegetables are important, and what constitutes a healthy meal. girls aren't learning that, and we're all suffering from it.

until health is taken seriously at home, in school, and in the gym, we are not going to be able to fight back against the deformed standard of beauty on the runway. parents have to talk to their kids, feed their kids good, healthy food, and teach them about nutrition and body issues. schools need to teach and feed healthy foods to students, helping boost mental power and attitudes, and actually take health class seriously. in the gym and book store, we're being marketed tons of fad diets, and told that there are secrets to losing weight and looking like the celebs, for $29.99 a month for 3 months, AS SEEN ON TV. it's ridiculous. being healthy is much simpler than that, if you educate yourself.

it's a hugely personal issue to me, not because i've struggled with anorexia or something myself, but more because i have friends who have - and do. there is nothing stranger than having a gorgeous, 5'7" girl who wears a size 26" jean healthily and is trying to starve herself down to 24" tell you that you - 5'3" and size 28" and definitely not model-sized, tell you that you are gorgeous and skinny and laugh at you when you say you're having an icky body day. yeah, every girl has fat days, we all have days where we look in the mirror and go, "ugh". but the difference is, is that every day? and how do we deal with it? eating only candy and salads and counting every single calorie is disgustingly unhealthy. it's the mental side of it that makes anorexia so hard: even though you're educated, you may not be able to stop it. but being educated about what's healthy is the first step.

i know i can't change everybody; i can't make up someone else's mind to get help, or to eat better. but the least i can do is try and help, and educate. so here's a bunch of links and helpful info - i'm just doing what i can.

http://www.nutritiondata.com/topics/dieting-weight-loss - if you only read one link, read this one. really great info on healthy dieting and weight loss.

The 2 Most Important Facts about Successful Weight Loss

Before beginning any diet, it’s important that you understand these two important facts:

1. Weight loss depends on energy balance.
   To lose weight, your energy intake must be less than your energy expenditure. This will always be true. There are no foods, pills, or potions that will magically melt the pounds off. The only approach that works is eating less and/or exercising more.
   
   
2. Permanent weight loss requires permanent change.
   Don’t assume that you can spend six weeks on a diet and then return to your old eating habits. Short term diets only produce short term results. The only successful way to keep the weight off is to make small but permanent changes in your lifestyle. Coincidentally, this is also the best way to improve your health.

Helpful Tips

3. Maintain or increase your metabolism.
   One of the most common mistakes that dieters make is to get excited or impatient with their diet, and reduce their Caloric intake too far. If you do that, your body will respond by lowering your metabolism and slowing your weight loss. To prevent this downward adjustment of your metabolism, make smaller changes to your eating habits. Your patience will pay off in terms of more consistent weight loss, more energy, and fewer cravings.
   
   For the best results, add exercise to your plan. Regular exercise not only expends energy as you’re doing it, but can also lead to increases in your basal metabolic rate, so you’ll burn more Calories even at rest. High-intensity exercises burn the most Calories, but don’t select exercises solely on their fat-burning potential. Instead, pick exercises (i.e. sports activities) that you enjoy, and want to incorporate into your daily routine.
   
   
4. Avoid hunger.
   Hunger is one of your body’s strongest stimuli, and can be an evil challenger to your will power. Hunger is also relatively slow to subside, and can cause you to eat more than you intended. To break this unproductive hunger-overeating habit, always try to eat before you get hungry. This may seem counter intuitive to someone who’s trying to limit their Calories, but it’s a very effective concept. Two different techniques can help make this easier to accomplish:

Eat smaller, more frequent meals. Instead of three meals per day, try eating five or six smaller meals. By eating more frequently, there will be less time between your meals, and less chance of you experiencing such intense hunger. As an extra benefit, there is some evidence that suggests that eating more frequently can also help raise your metabolism.

Include more slow-to-digest foods in your meals. When it’s not possible to eat more frequently, make sure that your meals contain a mix of nutrients. In particular, fats and protein are much slower to digest than carbohydrates. While most carbohydrates leave your stomach within about two hours, protein takes approximately four hours to digest, and fat takes as long as six hours.

http://www.nutritiondata.com/ - analyze nutrition information of food (more than just calories!), analyze recipes, and lots of other helpful tools

http://www.nutritiondata.com/tools/calories-burned - a tool to determine your calorie loss with your everyday life - use this to estimate how many calories you need to eat within a day. going below your daily nutritional needs can have serious health consequences

http://www.nutritiondata.com/topics/better-choices-diet - helpful tips about eating and how to pick foods that are healthy, but yummy too

http://www.nutritiondata.com/tools/firefox-plugin - their firefox plugin

http://www.whfoods.com/ - world's healthiest foods, info and recipes

http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/dga2005/document/html/brochure.htm - brochure on dietary guidelines

http://www.healthyeatingclub.org/info/articles/index.htm - TONS of articles on all kinds of health-related topics

http://www.realtime.net/anr/10eattip.html - helpful tips on eating

http://www.healthyeating.net/ - great site with lots of articles and links

http://www.nutrimundo.com/diets/index.html - info on fad diets and how to pick a healthy diet plan

http://www.halls.md/body-mass-index/av.htm - great body mass index (BMI) calculator

injuries

last night, while cutting fresh caramels, i slashed my hand up pretty bad with a pizza cutter. 5 hours in the ER and 5 stitches later, i'm now half invalid. i can't even do anything with this hand now - i cut almost a cm in, into the muscle and nicking my tendon. WOO. (please note the bandaged hand in the photo.. sigh)



a great end to a fantastic two weeks including getting strep throat and having all my clothes stolen from the laundromat. YAY.

some interesting posts from me coming soon, i promise!

word count

# of times tiffie used "annoying" or a variation in the last post: 11
# of times tiffie used "bored": 8

this was a seriously pointless post.

life lesson

life lesson #whatever: don't leave your clothes in the laundromat. ever.
that's right, all my clothes got stolen. all my underwear, all my bras, jeans, turtlenecks.. my $150 anthropologie dress, my bcbg vest shirt, my expensive jeans, my cashmere turtleneck, my brand new vs pink pj pants and cute undies and lounge clothes. my tokidoki shirts. my workout clothes. my super expensive towel my mom bought for me. my sheets.

....people are horrible, i guess that's really all i had to say. i mean, who does that? who just goes into the laundromat and takes FOUR LOADS worth of laundry?? now i've started grabbing stuff out of a dryer and went, ahh, that's not mine. how do you not notice its yours? karma's a bitch, i hope, because whoever took my stuff deserves a karmic smackdown of the highest order. trying to look on the bright side, though - at least it's not my camera, or my supernice printer, or monitor, or god forbid my laptop with all my portfolio work, or britten. i'd really be freaking out, then. thank god for small things.

in better news, my dad lent me some money so i could buy underwear/bras/socks/basics like jeans and t-shirts. i managed to get some cute stuff for about $250 - i'll post soon (when i get home from work) with pictures :)

as cool as it is to shop from shopbop all the time, not everyone can afford it. it IS possible to look super cute on a "budget". maybe not walmart budget, but the trick is to find good quality items and spend a bit more on them, rather than buying more, crappier pieces. pics soon!

fruit tarts

tonight i was really craving something for dessert, so i threw these together. as far as desserts go, they're pretty healthy - and super simple. not that dessert is ever super healthy, but it's mostly fruit, so it's far better than a fat-filled cheesecake, or chocolate cake.

the recipe:
defrost some frozen puff pastry and cut it into small squares (4x4"). poke a few holes in the bottoms with a fork, so they don't stay totally soggy in the middle. place a few pieces of fruit on each square. i used raspberries, blackberries, and apples. any fruit would be good - sliced cherries, pears, nectarines, anything. sprinkle a little honey or brown sugar (or both!) on top. bake at 400 degrees for about 10-15 minutes. enjoy!

y helo thar

this is me:

i'm elyse. i'm 20. i'm from alabama, but right now i live in new york. i'm a senior in college (may, bitches!) and i'm a graphic designer. i make things shiny. i love fashion, blogging, watching and squeeing over tv shows, designing and decorating, kickboxing, my dachshund puppy (britten), pink things, blue things, sunshine, the beach, and baking. i looove baking.

disclaimer: normally i don't lick things. also, this picture was taken in my brother's room, therefore that is NOT my yu yu hakusho poster.




this is me and my brother. he's clearly thrilled about being allowed to drive our mom's honda s2000. sweet car. i love cars - and motorcycles. i'm a total speed demon. i also love my brother.

i'm definitely a southern girl at heart. in this picture, we were driving to the original oyster house in mobile, al to get key lime pie. i love to bake, especially mini-sized things, things with fruit, and bread. maybe i'm lucky for being naturally skinny, but i love me some baked goods and i don't care how many i eat!




this is my adorable dachshund puppy, britten. he's about 5 months old now, about 10lbs (my arms hurt just thinking about it), and has become fluffy enough to need brushing (he's a longhair). he is the love of my life, even when he pees on my floor and tries to eat my food. he even knows how to play dead! what a cutie.

i got a new camera for christmas so i've been flickr-ing like crazy and hopefully (it's my goal!) all my posts will have daily photos. ack. i got out of the habit of blogging, but hopefully this will get me back in! yay for angry pink cupcakes!


so in summary:

we post about us. about crazy boyfriends and girlfriends and ex's and friends. about cupcakes and pink things and super cute things. about design things and art things and crafty things. about fashion and clothing and shopping and hair and jewelry. about partying. about tattoos and piercings. about food. especially food. about doggies. about ranty things that make us sad. about job hunts and work and traveling and living. about everything, but especially us.