Reinventing Clothing From 1984

The face of a tired little lady.

Ever since Prim Suspect has been official, my brain has been swirling, my head has been spinning, and I am loving every single lack-of-sleep-moment that my little body is being such a little soldier and enduring.

Things have been insanely snowballing into a big ball of fashionably awesome GOODNESS! All in the same day, I signed contracts to make Prim Suspect official, AND was offered the sweetest job in the world with Hurley. (Which, I'm totally not going to tell you about and jinx ... because I ALWAYS do that.) 

I have been coming up with designs like a mad woman, sleeping for 4 hours a night because I can't stop!!! It's only been a few days since the line is official, and already SO much is getting done. It's funny how fast things can actually get done when it's something you fully WANT to do and really really love. It's going to be amazing to finally see the designs that are on paper, scattered around my room, and on napkins, lost in my purse somewhere, come to life one day! That will be my defining moment. 

I have been listening to TONS of MGMT - it's been insanely inspiring when I'm sketching. Also, Bell x1 (particularly The Great Defector) has been playing in the background quite often. And as always, I'm still finding inspiration in the weirdest of places. Today I had a flash image in my head (that is totally 100% serious) of this barbie I used to have when I was 6 years old. She was wearing this pink shiny, long, tight dress with a big ruffle on the bottom. When you push the bottom up, the long dress turned into a mini dress and the big ruffle laid mid thigh, with some of the pink dress going as far as to the top of her knee. Pretty awesome, if you ask me. I'd like to reinvent this fab barbie dress one day. Shiny pink polyester fabric and all. What girl wouldn't LOVE a push up party dress?? Anyways, I recreated this look (don't worry, it wasn't bright pink) with my Ellen Tracy minidress and a black mini skirt, belted and paired with nude ankle boots to keep it a little more modern than 1984. (See photo below.)

I am also proud to announce a new addition to my wardrobe, a sweet little shift dress that I laboriously (exaggeration) belted with chains to add a little funk. I absolutely LOVE it's super long arm pits, and the fabric totally makes it what it is. I'm thinking about twisting the shoulder straps and wrapping a piece of colored leather around the racerback back to make it a little more fun.

So sweet. Prim Suspect possibility?....

Not that I'm anywhere near losing my mind, but with the lack of sleep I've managed to rack up, I'm pretty sure I might be getting there....

....and yup ... there it is.

Prim Suspects - THE Clothing Line

Inspiration ... everywhere.

It's official. Life is officially what I want it to be!

My clothing line is actually happening! On the very day that I started making moves to get the ball rolling, I got a call from a friend, who is also trying to start a clothing line, asking to be partners. DUH. I was in faster than you can pick up a copy of Vogue at the newspaper stand. 

I can not be more excited. I can't even sleep at night because new designs are swirling through my head. This is going to happen, and fast. Combined, my partner and I have every single resource we need, and then some. 

Things are going to fly as soon as it launches. I will, of course, keep you updated with all of the fun details. I'm off to finding inspiration in the silliest of places!

Toodles!

Cianara, White Clothing

An "I told you so" moment, coming soon.

Tomorrow is going to be an exuberantly fun day. I'm looking forward to it.

Friday will be a short day of work (as are all fridays - I purposely work to the raw bone all week and overdo it a bit on my hours every single day, so that I can leave way early on fridays. Thanks to Macy's being total cheap skates and refusing to pay any overtime at all, even for five minutes. Example - My "schedule" is from 8:30am to 5pm. Instead, I work from 8am to 5pm, and scaling down my 1 hour lunch break to a half hour lunch break. Gaining me an extra hour every day, that means I get to leave four hours early each friday. Can we say genius?)

Anywho, after work tomorrow, I'll be skipping with excitement over to my sister and bro in law's house for a tie dye fest and shrimp taco party! (With my latest fashion forecaster events being incredibly successful, I am calling right now that tie dye anything will rule the next season. Watch, and learn, babies.) And for the record, no, you can not borrow my tie dye t shirt dress that I will be prancing around pridefully in, while singing "I told you so!" at the top of my lungs. In the event, I will also be creating my own tie dye hippie headbands in obnoxiously contrasting colors to my dress. If I do not get photos of this, lightening shall strike me. They will be up on Monday, promise.

By the way, sorry for the lack of posts the last two days. Day 1 I was in bed and pretty adament about the fact that my right eardrum was going to implode at any given moment. Day two I had an excruciating stomach ache that I swear mimicked the last time you ate General Tso's Chicken that wasn't chicken AND had food poisoning written all over it. I still have no idea what it was from, but it leaked over into today. I am not happy and wish death upon it immediately. 

I hope you all have best friday ever tomorrow! I'll be thinking of you while I'm tie dying all of the white clothing I own and chowing down on shrimp tacos! 

Peace, Love, and MexiShrimp!

Fashion Forecasters: Stop Stalking Me!

"Power Shoulders", in the prettiest, most fashionable way possible.

Either some major fashion forecaster is seriously stalking me, or I have some sick sixth sense about what's next in fashion. 

I'm not sure whether to be upset, or way proud of myself. The comeback of majorly padded shoulders has returned, appropriately called "Power Shoulders". I have been wearing my ultra padded vintage blazer for years and got major compliments, but nobody wanted to follow, until now. Fall '09 Collections strutting down every runway across the world is now sporting the power shoulder. Just log onto www.elle.com and view any runway show's photos. Time to rummage through mom's old 80's wardrobe, girls. I bet there's a whole fashionable little world to find in there.

I'm also taking credit for the comeback of the sling bag. You know, those bags that you throw over your shoulder, it goes across your chest and you instantly feel like you're way too fashionably late for class? It's that big, long strap that comes with most bags you purchase, but you just toss away because it's "way cooler" to carry it on your forearm like a satchel bag, or the same old - throw it over your shoulder. So boring. Step it up people. Bags are much cooler across your chest and resting on your bum.

Ahh. Just another daily reminder that I need to start my clothing label. Investors, step up. I'm ready to go. I can not sit here, looking at clothing lines stealing my ideas any longer. It's beyond heartbreaking, it's physically heart wrenching. Knowing that I can be dressing the world in painfully fashionable clothing that makes women weak in the knees, making closet happy, and knowing that women all over the universe are gaining confidence because they actually feel good in what they're wearing. I think I'm misleading people a tad when I talk about all this fashion stuff. I do love love LOVE fashion, but I don't want to do this for me. When I have my own label, I plan to do great things with it, not only creating beautiful clothing, but helping those in need also. Those big plans are yet to be narrowed down, (I have way too many ideas, I can't keep my focus on just ONE.) but I plan to make it solely about others, not myself, at all. See? I'm not just some self centered, egotistical jerk like Marc Jacobs looking to make a buck. The world needs help, the people in this world need help. And if nobody else is stepping up to the plate, I WILL!

So here's to making fantastic, before-everyone-else-is-doing-it fashion choices. I wonder what spectacular fashion choices I can come up with next. Maybe I'll start crimping my hair ... WITH bangs - a fun little modern twist on being one of the babies of the eighties. Or maybe I'll start wearing embellished bodysuits with tutu's. Ten bucks says you see it on the streets of somewhere near your home.

 

Yup, this looks like a grand idea to me!

It must be my silver metallic leggings that are predicting the fashion future. I knew I bought them for good reason...

What Counts

A quote to live by. Every single day.

Epiphany Alert!

I know that I'm a nice person. People know that I'm a nice person. Take advantage of it? It wouldn't be the first time that happened. 

I have a huge heart. A HUGE heart. But it's a weak heart. I will love you to death, until you give me a reason not to. I will give a person anything they need, talk to them when they need advice, be there for them when everyone else falls though. But come the time where I need that, I can rely on all of one person. One. That's disappointing to me. 

It amazes me how I meet SO many new people on a daily basis, yet when you need one person to talk to, or one person to hang out with, nobody's there. Should they be renamed "fake friends", or is the Lord showing me that those are the people that I don't actually need in my life. I'm pretty confident that it's the ladder, that He is filtering the unneeded out of my life. Bottom line, you just can not rely on people, but God only.  I can admit that I'm not 100% reliable all the time, but I definitely do my best. I feel like my "friends" don't even put in the effort. They're there for you on their time. That's fine, just don't bother with me then. Who has time for fake friends? In reality, I'd rather have one real friend, than a hundred fake ones. 

So, thank you to the ones, or one that has been there, and no thanks to the ones that pretend. I know I have a big heart, but don't abuse it. That heart will only close itself to you. Maybe what they say isn't true, "Treat others how you want to be treated." Because there's some people's selfish shells that you just can't break, unfortunately.

Instead of counting your friends, count your blessings. God is more important than worldly people anyways.

Hot Pink Studded Glowing Sun Days

Better than vacation.

This is a day worth blogging about. Why? Because it's made up of pure simplicity.

This entire weekend I am watching two adorable dogs, Phil - a Boston Terrier, who looks like a little china man with an obnoxiously happy face, all the time. And Lola, a little princess Pug, that I like to call "spaghetti face". The best part? I have a fabulous, free Saturday, consisting of seventy seven degrees of pure sun and blue sky, a big roomy deck - that I've taken upon myself to set up my beach chair on to tan this pasty white self that blends in with the white v neck tees I wear on the daily, and absolutely nothing to do for the entire day. This day is truly a rare breed, never happens in a million years. So, I'm soaking it up and taking advantage, full force.

I woke up bright and early (not by choice, my face was being stepped on consistently for twenty minutes, with a pug sleeping literally on top of my head.) Pining to get back to sleep, I had to accept that it just wasn't ever going to happen. So, I cracked the blinds. My eyes got wide as I saw how strong the sun looked. "Those UV rays can actually serve a purpose today!", I excitedly thought to myself. So I ran home, got my studded bikini, and parked myself on the deck. The sun could not be in a more solid spot right now. I am literally glowing from the heat of the sun on me. I'm in heaven.

I have my blackberry in the nifty little beach chair holder to my left, and a big tall glass of ice water in the cup holder to my right. I've already done away with the dark, wintery 'so maroon, it's almost black' nail polish, and applied some so incredibly bright pink, that would make barbie herself weak with envy. I have a stack of Harper Bazaar's, Vogue's, and In Style's close enough so that I can reach over and pick one up, without even having to open my eyes or move an inch. Snacking on crackers with ice cold grape jelly, and sipping some freezing cold beverages, I feel like a housewife who snuck away to her summer home in the Hamptons without her friends or family knowing. The silence is scaring me, it's almost too good to be true. I'd pinch myself, but if this is just a dream, I'm not about ready to wake up from this dream. This is truly living the life. I absolutely live for simple days like these.

I know that come Monday morning, I will be forced to hit reality, once again, and face a major rain storm while trudging into work. Hopefully I at least have a tan to remind me of this memory-to-be. 

So go enjoy this day! It's too amazing to sit anywhere indoors. I think I might give myself another good three hours in the sun, then grab an iced latte from Starbucks and hit up a vintage shop. I have way too much inspiration brewing inside me to let go to waste. 

So throw on your most girly bikini, soak up the sun, and don't forget to drink lots of water!

The Young And Cool vs. The Old And Rude

This is what I wish my life consisted of on the daily - large diamond tiaras and ice cream cones. A girl can dream.

I had a major realization today. Major.

Let me rewind a bit. I went to Philly with my Visual Team, 3 other women (all above 30 years of age). Me, being twenty four and a total hipster, obsessed with fashion and refusing to dress mainstream, I wore THE cutest outfit. (I know, I know, I promised pictures, but I didn't take ONE picture today. Macy's hates the paparazzi, apparently.) Anyways, we all met up and they looked at my outfit and totally didn't get it. It was only a dress (not even a short one!), slouch boots, and a blazer, TOTALLY CUTE. What's not to get? They were poking fun at my outfit, sliding in comments where they were not necessarily needed. So, I jabbed them with a sly comeback that I knew would hurt. "You guys just don't get how young, cool people dress because you're OLD!" Success. There was a slam on the brakes and three dropped jaws. That sure shut them up. They secretly despise me cause I have my own style and I'm skinny and young - I hear it every single day. They have actually told me that they can't wait until I'm old and fat, so I know how they feel. Ruuuuude. Here's where the realization came in ...

I've grown up always loving fashion, but lived in places where it was difficult to put that on display. (Obviously not LA or NY.) Some people express themselves through art or music. I express myself through fashion. To me, clothing is my story book cover - what you see on the outside, reflects what's on the inside. If I'm feeling super confident, you will definitely know that by my outfit, but if I'm feeling a bit under the weather or not so sassy, you'll probably notice that too. So, that's my outlet, fashion. Plain and simple.

Some people get it and applaud me for it, some just straight up don't get it. Regardless, I'm not going to stop expressing myself, just because some people don't have a creative imagination or an open mind. I mean, come on, it's not like I'm walking around in big pouffy dresses or ostrich feather cropped jackets, although if I could afford one, I would. 

Today taught me that no matter who gives you what look, who says what comment, who thinks whatever they are thinking about you - Don't Change Yourself! You are the way you are for a reason, that's who you were made to be. I am completely 110% confident in who I am. At twenty four years old, I've finally figured out who I am, what I love, and what I'm made of - and I'm not about to change that for anyone in the world, except Jesus. That's how everyone needs to live their lives.

People like these are the reason that girls are so self conscious, why people are confused as to who they are or where they fit in. As my mother always said growing up, "If you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all!"

Aside from the rude old people, the flower show was gorgeous! There were pink flamingos made out of hot pink carnations, with bamboo stick legs. Amazing. Also, Center City Macy's is my new goal in my career life. It as AMAZING there. If you're into architecture, seriously take a walk through there. Everything is original from like, forever ago. It's actually breathtaking. My goal in my Macy's career is to work in that store. It will be MINE someday!

Tomorrow is supposed to be bright and sunny and 77 degrees!!! Maybe I'll actually break out an obnoxious dress, just for good measure. You know, ruffle some old, mainstream people's feathers. 

Word from the fashionably wise: Never make a rude comment about a girl's outfit when she's wearing six inch platform shoes ... you never know where that heel might end up!

The "Love Handle Look"

Soo 2009.

Soo Hipster Sister.

It's that time again, kids!

The weather is getting warmer, the sun is shining brighter, which only means one thing to the current generation of youngin's ... Less Clothes. Not only has the sun come out, but so have the midsections, spare tires, and love handles of 16 year old girls. If I counted how many of these particular body parts I've seen today, and equated them for 1 pound lost on my own waist, I'd be anorexic-ly thin. That is not a lie.

I pray to God that the "Love Handle Look" is not coming back. Please, spare us. I can't bare to look at my own midsection, why would I want to look at an overweight tweens'? It is not cute, nor does this make you attractive, girlies. I thought long shirts with in anyways ... like, really long shirts. The ones that confuse you and mess with your head because you have to try and figure out if it's a dress, or she just forgot her pants. Either way, I hope it's a nice, big, baggy one. Cover up, ladies!

Aside from the visual torture I endured today, I have a day to look forward to tomorrow. 

Tomorrow, I will be in Philly, viewing the Macy's Flower Show. Just another fun little perk of being a Visual Merchandiser for Macy's. Love that! I plan on wearing an outrageously cute outfit, of course. It will be 71 degrees and sunny in Philly tomorrow, that means break out the dresses!!! Even so, I will NOT be baring my midriff, I will be wearing an uber cute black sling side dress with chocolate brown suede slouch boots, a herringbone blazer (lined in leopard print), and this super sweet black bag. I'll have to have some pictures snapped tomorrow to give you a better mental image. 

I promise to take a hundred thousand pictures of the Flower Show tomorrow, paparazzi style. It's going to be beautiful and amazing and I'm SURE I will be in the best mood ever, how can you not when you're spending your day staring at and surrounded by flowers?

Love you, babies. And don't forget, cover your tummies!!!

P.S. - I don't know why I never told you guys this, but you can follow me on Twitter now! (Starting like, 2 months ago, duh.) My Twitter name is Hipsterrr (Don't forget...THREE r's.) Follow me!

When You Dress Up, You Cheer Up!

Balmain Fall '09 Collection

Soo fetch. Give me those pants. Pronto.

I have not been hitting the gym quite as hard as I'd like to be. Lucky for me, I've discovered a new work out, completely exhausting, and will leave you calf muscles that will make a New York Yankee team member weak in the knees.

Six Inch Heels. 

Girls, break out your "oh em gee, I will be crawling home in these suckers if I wear them out tonight - shoes". It's time for a work out. I'd like to name this one the "It Hurts To Be Beautiful" workout, designed and mastered by Ali Pinho.

Today I decided on a killer (but way simple) outfit. I love how being in a rush, usually results in those "why didn't I think of this before" outfit. Super skinny black denim, a men's Hanes white v neck tee, leather bomber jacket, a black wool stringy scarf (it used to be the ugliest poncho in existence, but I had my way with it) that has this amazing gold super thin tinsel running through it, throw in some vintage & beaded necklaces, a ring so big that the two fingers on either side are spread apart so far, that it looks like you're making a permanent peace sign, and of course, six inch platform wood and leather black boots. Killer. Amazingly, this outfit cost me probably under $100. Wait ... this is totally off topic. 

Back to my point, wearing this outfit out today, I was literally exhausted from walking in these shoes. Now, my calf muscles are seriously sore. I think I did better in my boots today than I usually do on my 45 minutes on the bicycle at the gym. Sorry retro, I've traded you in for a pair of boots. Now, I'm not really trying to work out without actually going to the gym. Please, I'm not that lame. I've caught myself wearing way-too-tall boots and heels just about everyday now. I love how long they make my legs look, and at 5ft 2 in., you'd wear stilts if it were socially acceptable just to get a little length on your legs. It's amazing how feminine, girly, and sassy you feel (I so just used the word sassy...) in heels. You take on a whole persona when you wear something you feel outrageous in. Why not feel like that everyday?

Because everyone knows, when you dress up, you cheer up!

P.S. - Can anything in Balmain's Fall '09 collection be any more amazing??? I would give my left arm for ones of his broad shouldered mini dresses. I'm drooling.

Holy Toledo!!!!! BIG News!!!

Best friends for life if you know who this little dude is ...

Major, huge, incredible, massive, important news.

I was just fed some extremely overwhelming information .... September 24, 2009, I will be the lucky attender of another U2 concert. The incredible news? MUSE is opening for U2. Muse and U2 in the same vicinity, on the same night? I better bring an oxygen mask and a barf bag. Hello hyperventilation/shock/a coma!

I can not wait for this evening. I seriously just can not wait. The best part? My sister is getting married two days later. I'll be living the dream for a little weekend. 

Ahhhh. Life's good.

Watch For Your Cue In

Happy Easter my little babies!!

I've been a busy little bugger lately. That's my completely valid excuse for not posting in two days.

The fab little lady above, Rumi Neely, is my complete and utter idol. A normal girl living in California, loves fashion to the fullest, recently got picked up as a model, and was literally handed her own clothing line by RVCA, she's living proof that anything you want to happen, can, of course, with a little (ok, a lot) of luck, by mastering your networking skills and, well, just knowing the right people. I'll take a walk in her shoes ANY day.

With a drop dead model boyfriend, a to die for body, and the most amazing wardrobe (which consists of 85% vintage, 5% DIY, 5% gifts from designers, and 5% pure luck bargain finds - hate her), she is literally living each and every one of my ultimate goals in life. She's one of those people who is just simply blessed, receiving probably everything she deserves. The best part is, is that she never complains, ever. She just loves living. Rumi is NOT a celebrity (although she totally has grounds to be one), she's totally normal, she's just been given some of the best things in life. She's living the live that I want to be living this very moment. Jealous. And very legit.

BTW ... If anyone has ever in their life seen these boots that she's wearing in the photo above, please fill me in, I have been stalking them for two weeks with no luck. Rumor has it that their Sam Edelman. I swear I'll stalk out his phone number and force re-production on those boots if I have to. They are a wardrobe necessity. 

I've decided to seriously start my own clothing line. (How many times have I said that before, and it's fallen through. Maybe I'm jinxing myself?) But for the moment, just a mini one. Although money is the number one role player in this, I think I'm finally up to par with all of the connections I need ... for now. You can never have too many connections. I'm not 100% on what I want to do (I have way too big of dreams to even attempt at making them a reality right now) but my mini goal is to make a boat load of handmade pieces and open an Etsy shop. This way, I can make one of a kinds, and actually make money off of them. BUT, I'm going to need you guys to help - to help get the word out! Don't worry, I'll cue you in. 

It's going to take what will seem like a lifetime to actually get this off the ground. (My perfectionist side comes out full force x 10 when it comes to creating pieces, or fashion in general.) But I'm serious about this. Realizing that I'm working my dream job and still not totally happy, it's made me realize all of the things that I actually want, and need to do. I've realized what can be a reality, and what can't be. I've finally sorted it all out. There's no better time. Actually, it's the worst time, because I have put myself into damaging debts thanks to the traffic laws in the wonderful state of New Jersey. Nonetheless, I'll make it work. I promise. 

So, hello to no spare time. I'm dedicating all of that to my soon to be explosive line. 

Watch for your cue, kids!

"That's A Totally Different Animal"

Umm, can I please just BE Ashley Olsen? That dress is to DIE for. 

So so SO much to blog about.

Let's cross off my mental list, one at a time. (Sorry about the sporadic-ness)

Fashion is our first matter, as always. Is it normal to suddenly get the feeling that you're going to throw up when you see a picture (a professional/artsy/candid picture) of a gorgeous woman wearing a painfully stylish, morbidly incredible outfit? Or, if you find an amazing vintage piece, or an article of clothing/accessory/shoe that stops you dead in your tracks, immediately flushing hundreds of rash thoughts of how to rob a bank to get them in your possession? This is literally how excited fashion gets me. For those of you who don't understand, now you know. I can actually almost involuntarily vomit over a dress or a shoe or a complete look (see image above for another example of a dress worth getting sick over.)

I don't know what it is about fashion in general lately. But I feel like I'm in my prime. I'm on top of my game, finding the absolute best pieces that have extreme potential to complete my wardrobe, finding the rarest of vintage pieces for what can easily be justified as "cheap". Not to mention, my design/production skills have sky rocketed times a million, out of nowhere. (I have not been practicing. I barely have time to lift my coffee mug to my mouth these days.) I find the most intense inspiration from the simplest of things, and the outfits I've been able to create are blowing my mind. I don't know where it's coming from, and I'm not complaining, but the fashion God's are surely smiling down on me.

My next issue of business is that my family totally RULES. Thank you personally to each family member, Madre, Padre, Stacey and Nicole, who totally helped me get my life back on track these last few days. Because of these four astounding little helpers, I am no longer wanted by the police forces in practically every township, borough, and city in New Jersey. No more pullin' me over, coppers. I'm DONE getting in trouble. And I mean it! That's not a lie. I don't lie. Shut up!

No, but really. I'd be an unemployed, car-less, license-less, total loser of a twenty four year old, parked on my couch monday-friday, being so lame that it hurts to look in the mirror. But instead, I'm ready to make a zillion changes to every little thing that needs change in my life. (This has NOTHING to do with Obama, either.) I'm startin' fresh, like a bakery on a monday morning. Not only have I been scared crapless, but I've been inspired to fix the things that aren't working for me. Thank You, Pinho's!

While we're on the subject, for all of you guys that I have not seen for like, two weeks now, because the state of NJ hates me, along with my car hating on me as well, my car will be 100% by tomorrow afternoon (I hope). So let's do something? I miss you. 

This next issue is actually quite bothersome to me. Recently, a LOT of things have been revealed to me. Good things and bad things a like. Things about people, friends, ideas, thoughts (organized and not so organized ones), basically anything that covers the grounds of "life" in general, has been revealed to me. But the biggest bone that I have to pick, is people, friends in particular, who just aren't real. I'm not mad, I'm actually glad that I can filter out my friends by seeing their true colors. I mean, really, it's unfortunate for them more than anyone. Poor things must really be confused. To not know who you are, or what you want, or whatever your issue is, must really tie you up.

You can't live one way on Monday, and then be a totally different animal on Tuesday. You just can't. You're not fooling anyone but yourself. You're not confusing anyone but yourself. And the reality of it is, is that you're going to be standing all alone in the end, because nobody is going to know who you are. Take off your many hats, and be the person who's name is on your birth certificate. 

Well, at almost 1am on Thursday night, I can FINALLY rest my brain of all of the stresses of life that had me tangled up. I'm never letting things get this out of control ever again. I've never been so stressed/freaked out in my life. I'm putting it all behind me, getting back up on my horse, and enjoying what's left of this beautiful life.

In Fashion Coma

Can we say irresistible? Hello, future wedding dress!

I'm going to send myself into blogging overload.

I am contemplating starting that fashion blog I had talked about once upon a time. I have been getting way too into making new pieces, and I've definitely bumped up my fashion radar and style quite a bit. I guess looking for inspiration in the silliest things has steered me right. I've already got my brain in a "personal, but for your entertainment" blog, as well as a Christian Daily Devotional blog, but I don't have a blog for the one thing that I love love LOVE. I think my main issue is that I will want to put way too much time and effort into it, skipping out of work early to set up mini photo shoots in the park. I should totally be getting paid for this.

I've been obsessively into making new outfits from things I already own, things stolen from mom's closet, things stuff away in garbage bags in my basement that I swear I'd never wear again, and things that aren't even wearable objects - but I make them to be. It's been way too fun, which makes me just want to go out and dress everyone. Another solid reason why I need to start my clothing company. Can I PLEASE get my hands on a manufacturer and a team of seamstresses?? My clock is a-tickin'! I am actually scared for my life the next time I step foot into a vintage store, because all of my financial plans will be banished on the spot the second I lay eyes on a little jewel. Maybe that's why I've taken up in-home shopping.

Not to toot my own horn, but, toot toot!, I'm coming up with some pretty amazing designs. And all I want is to see people WEARING them. They look so lonely and sad draped over my dress form. Someone please cut me a check, and it's all yours! Help a Hipsta Sista out!!

Maybe I should just start out like one of those super bratty designers and hand-make one-of-a- kinds and either sell them off to high end boutiques for two months worth of NYC apartment rent costs, or ship them off to Miley Cyrus along with a note, pleading and begging her to wear it to her next awards event.

A girl can dream.

New Creation

Here's a dress that I draped (in under 1 hour, record time!!) on a day that needed some serious cheering up. When you can't shop, make your own clothes!

I have a serious love for fashion, even more so for making my own pieces, even though I rarely ever get to actually wear in public what I create (because most of the pieces I make are too much, or I just have nowhere fancy to go), I do like to just have them. Kind of like a physical portfolio. Take that, you sketchers!

The funny thing is, I barely sketch any of my designs, I basically just pull out some fabric and go at it. I'm more of a hands on, visual designer. It's actually kind of hard for me to plan something out on paper and then bring it to life, I always end up changing a million things, resulting in a completely different product. Still, I think that's the best way to go. 

So, who wants to buy this fancy little number so I can start making some money to pay off these bills?? I promise, the compliments will be a-comin'!

I don't just make fashion, I make history!

Happy 200!!!!!!!

Hipster Sister has officially hit 200 hits!!!!

This means you get a sneak peak at my unicorn picture. Making these things can turn any bad day, into an absolutely ridiculous day. Ashley and I kinda got into it ... maaaaybe we overdid it a little.

Maroon 5 says in one of their songs that it's not always rainbows and butterflies. They're right, it's rainbows and unicorns. Butterflies are so 2001. Unicorns are the Chihuahuas of the 21st century. 

Anyways, Happy 200, Hipster Sister. Keep it comin', kids!

I'm A Punching Bag

I'm pretty sure I'm a nice person. In fact, I enjoy putting others before myself.

Then why am I stuck playing the blame game, and I lose every time. I won't mention any names, but all day long, a particular someone has been jabbing at me with their blame stick, some of the things having nothing to do with me at all, but still, I took the blame, just to end the freakin' thing! 

There is nothing more frustrating than being in a situation where the arguer beats a dead horse for hours, and hours, and hours. Please, put me in a bubble, and punt me to some place pretty, maybe some place where I don't know anyone. This way nobody can point their finger at me and call me six times in a row, practically harassing me ... Oh please, this is Ali Pinho's life we're talking about. Nothing comes that easy.

All my life, I've been the punching bag. Maybe because I take it? Eventually, I fight back, which, obviously does not prove me to be that imitating because they just keep coming back. Really, I'm over it. I'm willing to take the punches. I'd rather do that than fight. Don't get me wrong, I definitely stand up for myself. But in the end, that doesn't really do much for my own good. 

So stop beating me up, you crazy cage fighters. This punching bag is out of order. Why don't you join a gym!!!

I'm not bitter. :)

Sunday Funday // Wake Up America!!!!

It's been quite some time since I had a Sunday Funday. 

But I'm kind of happy that they are spread so far apart. Because I swear, they just keep getting better and better. Due to some unfortunate circumstances, I am not able to drive my car at the moment. So, Nick was an awesome friend, and took me shopping at Kring Of Prussia mall with him. Shopping is something I thoroughly enjoy, even if it's not for myself. Heck, I'd rather be someone else's stylist than shop for myself any day. I am way too tough a customer to even deal with myself.

After way too much walking (that place is enormous), we went to the park to take some photos. If I could quit my job and do this all day long, I would. How irresponsible of me. My imagination is just way too big for my own good. I like it.

(You can see just a few of these photos on my myspace: www.myspace.com/alipinho, or my facebook page as well.)

Totally off topic, but I read the coolest thing today. It was called, "The Startling Effects of Going Vegetarian For One Day" If everyone went vegetarian for ONE day, here's what we could save:

* 100 billion gallons of water, enough to supply all the homes in New England for four months.

* 1.5 billion pounds of crops otherwise to feed livestock, enough to feed the state of New Mexico for more than one year.

* 70 million gallons of gas - enough to fuel all the cars in Canada and Mexico combined, with many gallons to spare.

* 3 million acres of land, and area more than twice the size of Delaware.

* 33 tons of antibiotics.

* Almost 7 tons of ammonia emissions, a major air pollutant.

We can also prevent:

* Greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 1.2 million tons of CO2, as much as produced by all of France.

* 3 million tons of soil erosion and $70 million resulting in economic damages.

* 4.5 million tons of animal excrement.

And here's another cool fact, if every American skipped one meal of chicken per week and substituted vegetarian foods instead, the carbon dioxide savings would be the same as taking more than half a million cars off the U.S. roads.

See how easy it is to make an impact? We need to start going green, literally! This is our home, so let's take care of it. 

Wake Up America!!!!!

I Can't Break Your Heart If You Don't HAVE One

Twenty Four.

It's this awkward age (quite possibly more awkward than the age of twelve, beating out puberty by a landslide) where if you're single, you just might be single forever, and if you're paired up, you're probably on the road to marriage. If there's nobody even in a bird's eye view worth dating, worth getting to know, worth mingling with, does that open the door to eternal relationship doom? Or does it mean that there's something totally perfect around the corner.

Look, cupid. I don't know how many more corners I have to turn, but sock him to me already! I'm twenty four, waiting (patiently) for love, and getting very bored. My luck, Mr. Right is probably offroading in Australia with his "mates" and never wants to get married or start a family. He just wants to drink Fosters and play in his band for the rest of his existence. Or, even more so my luck, he's already dead, passed away thanks to a bungee jumping adventure gone terribly wrong. (That's the kind of man I would date, just my luck.) Or maybe I was supposed to marry Jack Sparrow, and we just weren't fortunate enough to live in the same era. I am not complaining, I would make a terrible pirate.

Not that I'm worrying about it or anything (eh hem), I'm just wondering, how does this work, exactly? Am I doomed for eternity, or do I wait a little bit longer? Basically, do I throw my pity party now, or 5 years down the road. I have invitations to send out...

Why is it that all men that exist at this particular point in time (no offense, dudes), either, A. Have no interest in settling down, what-so-ever. B. Are total lame, tools who mimic Hugh Heffner's life. C. Are just ... well, losers. Ok, there's a d. D. Are perfect, but are just not interested. 

What is WRONG with you guys??? Ohh that's right, you have testosterone. Silly me.

For all of you single men out there, either move to Australia and go offroading and beer drinking with the man I'll never marry, or go bungee jumping (oh, Ali, that's just cruel). I need to sort out my options. You know, see what's left. I'm getting impatient. 

P.S. Please have good credit, a nice spacious apartment in brooklyn, wear your jeans tight, and be musically inclined. I will love you until the cows come home. 

Were Dinosaurs Denied Access, Or Just Nonexistant?

Exactly four months into 2009 and already so many lessons learned.

One in particular that sticks out in my mind? With the good, comes the bad. But sometimes the bad is good. Make sense?

How else would you learn lessons if you didn't have anything treacherous pop up along side you in life? If life was peachy all the time, we'd be really bored ... and really sick of peaces, I'd presume.

Totally off topic, but ...

Someone asked me a really random question that kind of caught me off guard. "Do Christian's believe in dinosaurs?" As much as I'd like to say yes, (I have an intense love for the Pterodactyl), I'm going to have to go with no. As I don't believe in science backed-up theories, (I believe in what the bible says, and that's it), there sure is evidence of T-Rex and all this friends. But when Noah built the ark before the flood, God told Noah to put two of every animal on the ark. I don't know about you, but in every story I've ever heard of the flood, and of every picture I've seen artistically drawing out the chronological events of the building of the ark, leading to the actual flood itself, I do not remember seeing T-Rex hanging out with the camels and the zebras. Did the dino's just not fit on the ark, or were there really no dinosaurs?

Not once in the bible is the word "dinosaur" mentioned. Unless Noah made a laundry list of all of the animals entering the ark, we really don't know who the lucky recipients of the tickets to the ride on the ark were given to. Think of it this way. "Dinosaurs existed millions of years ago." You hear it all the time in any dinosaur statistic that you come across. BUT, us Christians believe that the bible goes back a good 6,000 years. If you're up for the challenge, read the bible with a highlighter in hand, and highlight how many times you read the word dinosaur. I guarantee that your highlighter will have just as much ink inside when you finish, as when you started. And for those of you who are reading inbetween the lines, no, there were not baby dinosaurs on the ark. That's just nonsense.

Saying that there were dinosaurs on the ark, is like saying that there were unicorns there too. I'm pretty sure that a horse with a giant head tooth wasn't there, enjoying the ride. 

I'm kind of glad that this blog went completely off topic. I could have really put a dent in your night with the story I was actually saving for you guys. I'll spare you.

Hair Modeling and Hoedowns

Totally random happening today.

I was scouted, if you will, and was asked to be a hair model. Totally legit. Now, let's rewind a little bit and take you back to when I was sixteen. My goal in life, was to be a hair model. Not a joke. Now that I'm twenty four, hair modeling is no longer at the top of my list of "Things To Accomplish Before Death". However, being the optimist that I am, I figured it's better late then never, right? Bring on the dreams that I've once dreamed. Hey, at least I can never in my life say that I never accomplished any of my dreams...right?

So, I have my first photo shoot on April 27th, and then a video shoot in May. Me and my hair are going to have a totally radical time. Now when is Marc Jacobs going to find me while shopping and ask me if I would like to collaborate with him and design a line? Marc Jacobs by Alison Pinho. I love it. Marc, you don't know what you're missing. (BTW Marc, stop wearing skirts as a fashion statement. Really, stop it.)

I can not believe that I'm confessing this via blogspot for thousands of viewers to read, but I was listening to Miley Cyrus before and now I have the Hoedown Throwdown stuck in my head.(Look it up on youtube, and you will understand why it's stuck in my head.) And no, I don't know the Hoedown Throwdown dance. Nope, don't know it. Definitely not. No idea what you're talking about.

Those have been my festivities for the day. I will actually be at work tomorrow for literally an hour and a half, doing an even for Kensie. Totally excited, it's going to be fun. Then I'm going to beg for sunshine so I can go running on the beach. Feel the buuuuurn.

Love ya'll. (The Hoedown Throwdown is creating an alter ego ... I swear.)

Wrap Me In Tinsel

After the day I had ...

I just needed something to make me smile today. And this definitely took care of that. I want to be the dog in the left, he looks way happy.

And who wouldn't want to be wrapped up in blue tinsel?

Hope your day totally ruled. And if it didn't, like mine, then I have good news for you ...

Tomorrow is friday, AKA it should be a fun day. Funday Friday. I'm feelin' it.

An Open Door

What an awesome night at church. 

A Pastor at my church, who I never really had a sit-down conversation with, came up to me and said, "How old are you?" I was totally confused. "Twenty four. Why?" I said, with a look on my face like he just asked me what the square root of 4,784 was. "You should lead a missions trip in mexico for high schoolers.", he said, totally straight faced. "Really ... well that's really weird, because that's something I've been praying about." And I was. Constantly. Ever since El Salvador, the leader of our trip asked me if I would consider leading a high school team in Mexico. I said I'd pray about it. I guess this is round two of hardcore prayer.

So, that's what I'm doing. Praying, hard. I've been praying alongside the Mexico prayer, that God would open doors for full time missionary work for me. It's something that I think He is really laying on my heart. It's funny because at work, my boss will tell me from time to time, "Ali, you're going to be a Visual Director one day. I say in two years. You have amazing potential." (This is something that rarely ever happens, there are people in Visual that have been there eight years, and are still not directors.) But in the back of my mind, every single time she says that, I always think to myself, "But I'm not going to be here. I'm going to be serving the Lord. This is not what He wants me to do. This has nothing to do with doing His work. He has much bigger plans for me." It's automatic, every single time. I don't even think about thinking about it when it happens, it's just like, oh my goodness ... there it is again! 

This is open door number one. If this is what the Lord wants me to do, if Mexico is where he wants me, He will put me in Mexico this coming June. I wasn't even supposed to go to El Salvador, but He put me there. 

I have 100%, no doubt about it, total trust in Him. I was always one to try to plan ahead, make sure that what I thought needed to get done, got done on a timely basis. It's incredibly freeing to know that my life is in His hands. I'll let Him do His work. I'm just along for the ride!