Ohhh. This one is a doozy.

This Cocoon Bodyhose can be yours here. The listing says that ” are simply a 6′ multi-functional tube garment, made from very soft, seamless micro fiber nylon-spandex, similar to tights and pantyhose. there are so many things you can do with there cocoon bodyhose. many of our customers enjoy getting inside this to meditate, do yoga, play with a partner or simply sleep. especially on a cold nights. the most common description of how this amazing sensation feels is like being inside a warm safe womb. there also great for camping trips.”

The packaging exclaims “Love me no reason!” Available in white or black,

Brought to you by the ebay seller who also brings you the “tights for men-open crotch,ankle tights,sheer to waist” and “cool men trunk boxer“. Both hysterical!

Sunday was such a surprising day ! .. It started off with a shower and soy latte (duh) and then off to a bridal shower honoring my friend Beth. I live in a pretty tight knit part of Houston called Montrose- (aka The Bubble) . The Bridal shower was fun because it was a bunch of ladies that I have known for years and normally we only see each other at the neighborhood watering hole… But on a Sunday morning all gussied up, we saw a different side of one another and it was really nice.

After a few gallons of champagne and orange juice later (actually not for me- as I am on the antibiotics.. ugh) Two ladies that I have known for years decided that we should go thrift store shopping together! YAY! My favorite activity now combined with friends!

Normally the thrift is my escape- from the to do lists sitting around the house- from the boyfriend, from the pesky kitties, from the chores, from the phone (I normally turn it off). I zone out in a thrift store and let my eyes and arms become fashion honing devices! (and sometimes I sing along OUTLOUD in public to the oldies station that plays ubiquitously at every store..)

But Sunday was special! Mai, Lauren & I got stoopid and acted like 6th graders trying on clothes and snappin’ pics!

Embarrassing but true: here’s how we got into TROUBLE.

So what exactly did we buy? Ummm. I got a beret and two fun fall dresses- destined to be washed and hemmed immediately! Mai and Lauren were both on the hunt for leather vests and they both found PERFECT black leather vests. Lauren decided that the hand knit turban was worthy of her upcoming relocation to New York and Mai decided that the cop hat was integral for her Halloween outfit.The Smokey the Bear hat had to come home too, and was immediately gifted to Robin who missed out on the trip by graciously taking her hungover birthday girl coworker’s happy hour shift. She loved it!

An unexpected, silly and hilarious thrifting day! Laughing that hard for so long was so good for the spirit! I love staying young and silly! I don’t want to grow up. Oh yeah, and I renamed Value Village – Vagina Village. I have no idea why. But henceforth…. ya know.

Holy Mistress of the Dark. Coooomeee to me Disco spook wear. I am SO enamoured with this dress.

I just need to whip up a fabulous dry ice cocktails, add black spiked heels, a little kohl, a little moood music and Presto Chango-

HALOWEEN PARTY DONE.

And then I can wear it all the time the rest of the year.

f.u.n.

Here.

Re-reading through my prior blog postings it is clear that I have a LOT of interests… I have yet to touch on my love of vintage jewelry- some of my interests are silver modernist, victorian, my collection of Susan jewelry (including 8 pre-engraved ID bracelets), enamelware, weird spoon rings, turquoise, quirky charms, big rings, collecting bangles from all over the world (I have on 18 as I type), scrimshaw and bone – umm- I could go on?

I change up my jewelry all the time. Curating the layers of necklaces, earrings, rings and bracelets is a beautiful puzzle. I like subtleties in texture, color, materials, I tend to wear a good bit- But as a friend of mine recently commented ” you wear a lot- but it’s never too much”- I think it was a great complement!

To be vague- I am trying to determine what type of precious ring I may want to wear on a daily basis as aaaa.ahhh.ummm.committment.type.of.ring. Not that I know when that will happen- but two of my besties have requested that they be prior-ly informed if they get called into action.

Whatever my third-finger-on-the-left-hand ring may be, I know it has to be antique/vintage and untraditional. . One of my favorite online jewelry sites is Lang Antiques and Estate Jewelry. A lot of the jewelry is VERRRY expensive- which is fun to look at- but not so realistic. However- Lang does have some beautiful and unique pieces from many eras for every budget. Here are some intriguing baubles that have sparked my matrimonial imagination…

Clockwise: Victorian Saphire , Victorian Lapis and Diamond, Victorian Snake, Jade and Diamond

Clockwise; Chalcedony & Green Gold ,  Turquoise and Diamonds, Victorian Turquoise and Garnet, Renaissance Revival Amethyst Ring

One more beaut:

Geometric 80′s Fun!

And one last doll that absolutely overwhelmed me… stunning… but costs as much as a fully loaded corolla

Vintage Rough Diamond Ring

lapis? chalcedony? victorian snakes ( BTW- apparently writhing double snakes signify eternal love)? What is my forever love style of ring for this gal whose jewelry M.O. is daily change? I guess this is why most gals have classic diamonds- but I don’t think that is me either. Advice? Opinions?

i know i know...

Having everything you really need doesn’t stop the lookin’ from being fun. I just cleaned out my closet. And ebayed about five pairs of shoes, and handful of bags, and a million odds and ends. The ebay world was good and fair to me. My electric bill will not go down (only up) till about October- I need shoes now!

(let’s be realistic: I am not REALLY buying shoes. We are back in the virtual shopping world no?)

here are my latest picks:

CLOCKWISE. Refined yet motorcycle-y  Marsell Sandals on sale for $595, Navy Cosmonaut Platforms by Biviel via Anthro $180, 1940′s, meets the millenium in rust suede by Natural Comfort (a 70′s brand resurected by Steve Madden) $74.75 via 6pm.com, and tribally, toe looped, sky-high stilettos for my summer dance-capades and dress up situations by Dries van Noten via gimmeshoes.com on sale for $472.50 (and my size is still available!!!)

Good news on the job front: I have a contract for most of July and August. Though that means I won’t be getting paid until late September or Early October. My shoe dreams will just have to wait around for now until a permanent position (ie a steady paycheck) comes back ’round (which cross your fingers will happen in the fall).

Out of the above pairs: the Marsells really do take the cake. THey have some truly magical and sculptural designs that are still approachable and just toe the line of being avant garde. I hope I can still find this style when I have money again.

You heard it here first (maybe). Black is officially over. Taupe is in.

I just had my nails done in OPI “You Don’t Know Jacques”
It is the most gorgeous taupey grey brown.
I feel so sophisticated! YAY. I have been droopy because of the harsh Texas heat for a few weeks and a spa mani pedi was just the ticket yesterday.

Margeaux picked the color first for her toes while I opted for a pale neutral for my nails (I never tend to go dark on nails..) But midway through the process, I changed my mind and decided to go for it.

This morning it occurred to me as a gazed at my beautiful hands that I didn’t catch the name of the color while I was at the nail salon… So I looked it up on the OPI website today..

The website has a  neat preview application where you can check out every color on a virtual hand and customize details- including changing the length of the nails and skin color to match your own tone and length.

Here is what “You don’t know Jacques” looks like on virtual hands:

and also on my hand:

I know my nails are short, but I think it’s part of it’s charm! I feel like I’m on a 1980′s YSL safari!

On the website a vistor can browse color by collection or the entire OPI range.

I’m totally diggin’ the entire French collection which is all subdued purple and grey based tones like “Tickle my France-y”, “Baguette me not”, “A Oui Bit of Red”, “I’m Fondue of You”, and “Bastille my Heart”.

I remember seeing a 60 Minutes report on the OPI company and what a great family run business it is- all levels of employees  get to brainstorm and come up with the witty colors and then are voted on by the staff. Names like  “Kinky in Helsinki” certainly beats a “Berry Pink” any day!

Along the lines of the Taupe trend that I PROMISE is going to take the fashionistas by storm is Butter London’s Fash Pack and Tramp Stamp. Nonie Creme/ Butter London has done nails for the coolest of cool runways shoes like Alexander Wang and Vena Cava.

fash pack and tramp stamp by Butter London

I’m also interested in trying the OTHER next big thing in nails- Matte finish nails! Debuting in July, thankfully OPI has me covered on that too… they don’t last as long… but none of my manicures really do. A little birdie told me that Butter London’s contribution to the up and coming Matte nail trend is a top coat that will mattify the cult line of 3 Free formula nail products.

I think I am going to have to go buy a bottle of “You don’t know Jacques” for my in-between nail jobs when the salon just doesn’t seem like an affordable luxury. Hello signature color!

I would LOVE a MADSEN Cargo Bike and hopefully I will win one.

cargo bikes for everyone!

I have a strict policy when gift giving- only give something that I want to keep for myself. I consider myself a good gift giver. Thoughtful, resourceful, innovative, sometimes thrifted, sometimes expensive… but the bottom line is that everything I give away I (secretly) want to keep. Maybe it’s some sort of deep seated Buddhist side of me about letting go and riddng oneself of all want. Or maybe it is a twisted form of narcissism where I love my own taste so much that I will inflict it on others. Whatever- I will let Sara agree or disagree on my own self proclaimed gift giving skills, but here is the promised second installment of VBG (Virtual Beach Gifts).

The Swimsuit- A $325 swimsuit?!?! PSHAW you say? Well it’s only the best for you dear sister. Malia Mills is the most inspirational swimsuit company ever! All handmade in America this company embraces- and not just paying lip-service- but seriously EMBRACES women of every size. One perusal of their site and you see gorgeous ladies in every proportion. I hand picked this crisp cotton Damsel mailliot in a black and white check. (a cute haphazard contrast to the bright stripey cover-ups and kinda Annette Funatello sexy under the long grey maxi dress..  and it ZIPS up the back. *SWOON*. Kind of think it’s worth every penny! And with that much style, support and adjustable cup sizing, you will be the hottest mommy on the beach!

retro fab mailliot by Malia Mills $325

natural woman dolly

dolly and cher.

The name “service & devotion” was gleaned from the lyrics in the seminal Dolly Parton song “9-5″. Who doesn’t get filled with excitement and joy when the introductory drum beats start thrumming… the essence of the song is about the futility of working for the man and how the daily grind does not pay off.  However, the energy exuded in the song is infectious and joyous. Doesn’t Dolly Parton imbue the essence of “life is too short for this crap”?  My sister and I (with maybe contributions from friends along the way?)- aim to break away from the mundane and banal and embrace all the things that we love.

Dolly in Disneyland Sing-A-Long!