Quirky & Co.

SCRATCH THAT.

2011-07-27T02:49:00.000-04:00

this is where you can find me from now on:

http://twelveoclocke.blogspot.com/

BABY COME BACK.

2011-07-21T23:56:00.007-04:00

I've recently realized that I should probably started blogging again here because sometimes Tumblr just feels too cold and teen angsty and there's all of those gifs of galaxies and anorexic people smoking and it's all just too much for me! Also, sometimes I worry that "Quirky & Co." is a stupid name, but I am learning to embrace the choices of my eighth grade self and so should you!

So here's some exciting things going on in my life: I am done junior year, I waitress at an old folk's home(LIVING THE DREAM!), and I started an Etsy shop to sell vintage because I have been hoarding stuff that I find at thrift shops that is aweso

me, but doesn't fit me and it was only a matter of time until my mom called A&E to come help me.

NOW, what I have been doing with my summer, in iPhone pictures:

I made a crop top out of this awesome fruit themed tablecoth I found at a local thrift shop. Tutorial forthcoming! No patterns required! (FUN FACT: My mom

informs me that the thrift shop where this was purchased is on the same compound as a drug rehab and in the 1970s, while shopping, a patient tried to steal

some tube tops from her hands!).

I successfully made donuts from scratch for the first time. I have now learned how to deep fry donuts and french fries and home and my life is so much better.

I turned a Mrs. Roper muumuu into a slightly shorter Mrs. Roper muumuu.

Got my hair cut. Look how windswept and cool I look! It's like you can't even tell that I'm sitting in the outdoor eating area of Chipotle!

And, finally, some hot young adult fiction to read.

How is YOUR summer going? I want to hear all about it!

something from nothing

2011-01-23T23:29:00.003-05:00

Artist/Blogger extraordinaire Olivia Mew refrained from buying clothing for a month and created miniature felt versions of dresses she wanted and sewed them all together to make a wearable shift dress.

This project is so inspiring! Imagine how therapeutic it'd be to make a miniature version of a Miu Miu dress you could never afford in a lifetime.

WORN: Issue no. 11

2011-01-17T15:54:00.008-05:00

When the lovely folks at Worn offered to send me their newest issue, I was bogged down by schoolwork and having one those weeks where you look into your closet and suddenly feel temptation to just give up and become a nudist. I felt like Ali Larter in that scene in Legally Blonde when she's in prison and Elle comes to her rescue by bringing her, among other things, "the bible" a.k.a. Cosmopolitan. Except Worn is basically the antithesis to every ridiculous, Cosmo-like rag I've ever read.

Worn provides intelligent commentary on fashion and its surrounding culture. You will not find articles like "How To Find the Perfect LBD That Will Make You Look Skinner, Younger, and Find You A Man In Just 15 Minutes!" The magazine discusses the historical and social influence of fashion from a feminist perspective and embraces personal style, with a voice that is funny and sincere. Not to mention that it's 44 pages of eye candy!

Some of my favorite parts of Issue 11 include:

+A look at the evolution of the airline "stewardess" uniform and culture.

+An excellent guide to buying vintage glasses frames, as well as a glossary of various styles throughout history. I wish I had this a few months ago, when I invested in a pair of gold vintage cateyes!

+An informative piece on textile conservation that made me scold my mom for storing vintage dresses in our damp basement.

+An editorial featuring a real live Zebra! The perfect antidote to every mainstream editorial featuring a designer's exact runway look against a beige background.

I cannot recommend Worn Journal enough. I have never encountered a magazine that made me wish that I could just play dress up and hangout with its staff.

For more info on Worn, go here! To subscribe, go here!

P.S. What do you guys think of my pom pom necklace? I made it hastily last night and I can't decide if it's cool or looks like I got into a knife fight with Fozzy Bear!

i'm still here post 4 of 949

2011-01-13T20:18:00.003-05:00

Hi everyone! I just wanted to let you all know that I am alive and well! BECAUSE I KNOW YOU CARE. One month without blogging turns into four before you know it. Junior year is scary and frightening and every myth you heard about it is true. To quote Daria Morgendorffer, "If I had to do it all over again, I'd have started advanced placement classes in preschool so I could go from eighth grade straight to college."

I am working on some new projects, so stay tuned!

i hang glide on a dorito.

2010-08-24T15:36:00.001-04:00

I don't care if you've already seen this, watch it again. I feel like I can relate this half shell so much more than I have ever with mankind.

DIY Couture

2010-08-09T22:41:00.010-04:00

Have you ever been to a party where you see a girl in a cute dress, you tell her you like her dress, and she responds "Thanks! I made it myself!" and then you go sulk in a corner and are like "WTF, self, why can't you do that?" I WANT TO BE THAT GIRL!

The problem is that sewing brings out my inner rage. Sewing patterns are basically written in Japanese to me. Most sewing guidebooks seem to be written by a stern grandmother who is trying to teach you how to sew with "tough love." There's just too many rules, so many ways to screw up! I basically get halfway through a project, throw spools of thread in agony, and then go watch the Food Network and never finish it.

Clothes made using DIY Couture books.

Imagine my excitement when the folks behind DIY Couture offered to send me a few books. DIY Couture makes the sewing process easier for beginners and experience seamtresses alike, by offering zine-like books with illustrated, step-by-step instructions on how to create a garment. Instead of speaking in another language, these books teach you visually. Instead of dealing with complicated patterns, the book gives instructions on how to measure and cut fabric using household items and your own measurements, creating a completely unique garment from start to finish!

I was sent the books on how to make a pleated skirt, a cloak, and a gathered dress. While tempted to make a Little Red Ridinghood style cloak, I opted to save that for the fall and try out the pleated skirt using some grey cotton I scored for $1 a yard. This was the first time I've sewed something I actually want to wear! It feels good to create a piece of clothing, from start to finish, for $2 instead of shelling out money for a basic skirt somewhere like Urban Outfitters.

"Inspired by the thousands of invisible pairs of hands around the globe that make the clothes we buy, DIYcouture hopes to inspire people to turn off their screens and get up to their elbows in the 3-dimensional world of creation. It supports the slow revolution. Helping people to produce garments that are precious, rather than disposable, this is the antithesis of fast-fashion."

The book includes instructions on how to create multiple variations of the skirt, including a maxi version that I plan on trying. The killer thing about these books is that one can be used to create infinite garments, like fashion bacteria!

DIY Couture books can be purchased here.

WWII Hairstyle Safety

2010-06-23T23:06:00.001-04:00

lemon cake.

2010-04-08T23:06:00.005-04:00

You're probably wondering where I've been (most likely not. I completely understand. I wouldn't care if I were you). For those of you who are like "Dude, Gabby. Stop being so lazy, stop neglecting your blog. We know you don't have a life. We know that your social life consists of tweezing your eyebrows while watching straight to video B-teen movies," what if I told you I was in space? Ok, sorry, I was a little too busy WALKING ON THE MOON to blog about, like, my love of tights.

I'm just kidding. I had you fooled! I did bake some lemon cake, which was delectable if I say so myself. If you've been following my Tumb lr, you'll know that it's kind of creating a world wide phenomenon. I am becoming KIND OF A BIG DEAL.

The lovely Hazel came over and took some really beautiful photos of my house that you can see here. I think I am going to get her to come live here and take pictures at my beck and call in exchange for baked goods.

Lemon Cake

+2 cups all purpose flour

+3/4 teaspoon baking soda

+1/4 teaspoon salt

+1/2 cup milk

+2 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

+1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened

+1 cup granulated sugar

+2 large eggs

Preheat oven to 375°F. Butter 2 (8- by 2-inch) round cake pans and line bottoms of each with rounds of wax or parchment paper. Butter paper and dust pans with flour, knocking out excess. Sift together flour, baking soda, and salt. Stir together milk and lemon juice (mixture will curdle).

Beat butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add sugar, beating until pale and fluffy. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Alternately add flour mixture and milk mixture in batches, beginning and ending with flour, mixing at low speed until just combined.

Divide batter between pans, smoothing tops. Bake in middle of oven until a tester comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Cool in pans on racks 10 minutes, then invert onto racks, remove paper, and cool completely.

Lemon Frosting

+4 oz cream cheese, softened

+4 oz butter, softened

+3 1/2 cups confectioners sugar

+2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

+1 or 2 teaspoons lemon zest

Beat everything together until fluffy and frost onto the cake layers!

What a hottie.

well, that she's an axe murderer, of course!

2010-02-26T12:30:00.003-05:00

Exhibit A: Moschino Cheap & Chic Fall 2010 R/W

Look at that adorable guitar case bag! It just emanates cuteness! But yet...I feel that it looks so familiar...like I have seen it somewhere before, like say, I don't know, 19 SECONDS INTO THIS YOUTUBE CLIP?!

I like to think that Rosella Jardini is just like me and sits around watching Gilmore Girls reruns while eating nachos that she'd claimed she was making for the whole family, but in fact, ends up eating the whole plate on her own.

sew u: dresses

2010-02-06T00:43:00.006-05:00

I have the excitement of a preteen child the night before the release of the last Harry Potter book (I'm sorry. I don't know what it's called. I was partial to A Series of Unfortunate Events. Really, I can spend hours discussing the meaning behind Count Olaf's ankle tattoo, but that's for another time)! I have the first and second Sew U books by Built by Wendy and, just like the namesake line, they're so cool and offbeat and functional.

Unlike most sewing instruction books, which are usually written in, like, pig latin and teach you how to make your very own floor length dirndl skirt out of polar fleece (!), these are written like you're talking to your easily understood cool best friend who has a vast knowledge of needlecraft and wants to teach you how to make something you'll actually want to wear.

I plan on spending the rest of wintertime whipping up cute little dresses, and then, come springtime, I'll bust them out and nobody'll know what hit them! My world domination plan will succeed!

she comes apart, but she's so together!

2010-02-04T17:42:00.006-05:00

Did you guys have ridiculous collections as a child? Because I did; Beanie Babies, a brief stint with Legos, Betty Spaghetty dolls. (OMG DOES ANYONE ELSE REMEMBER BETTY SPAGHETTY? PLEASE SAY YOU DO. OMG. NOSTALGIA. INTERCHANGEABLE PLASTIC HAIRDOS. OMG.)

My mom collected Madame Alexander dolls, back when they didn't cost an arm and a leg and you could go buy one at the drugstore for like 5 cents and, like, sip an ice cream soda and ride your bicycle off into the distance. I remember I was so excited when McDonald's released Madame Alexander happy meal toys, that my mom took me there for lunch everyday for a week. We were just so set on collecting them a

ll. That and it gave us an excuse to eat french fries everyday.

ANYWAYS, Jason Wu is designing a collection of dolls for Madame Alexander. These probably will cost an arm and a leg, but oh the cuteness IT HURTS. THAT HAIR, OH! This is unreal. I need a commemorative t-shirt immediately. And a cheeseburger.

and if you haven't got a half penny, then god bless you!

2010-01-03T01:58:00.005-05:00

I hope everyone's holiday was full of cheer and copious amounts of butter based food things! Mine certainly was. I promise an entire holiday themed post soon, I mean it's not like I'm lazy or toy with a procrastination problem OR SOMETHING SILLY LIKE THAT. No, no I just want to prolong the holiday cheer as much as possible! Yeah! But as a preview, here's what I wore on New Year's Eve.

Please pardon my pseudo pretending I'm an Urban Outfitters model looking off lustfully into the distant pose here. I'm wore my sister's old Joyce Leslie leopard sweater under Rodarte for Target dress, 3 pairs of tights to protect my delicate child limbs from the cold, and boots whose brand I am unsure of, but that's alright because they give me a false sense of coolness!

That sweater is actually a v-neck and, when worn that way, looks like something Hilda Suarez might sport. But because I'm just so startlingly brilliant, I wore it backwards and it looked like a whole new shirt, which then prompted my sister to ask for it back! Yes!

What did you guys do on New Years Eve? I spent mine feasting on Chinese food with my family and ending up on my best friend's couch watching the cast of Jersey Shore ring in the new year. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but sometimes I fantasize about having a pretty apartment and frolicking around in a sparkly dress with a tray of pigs in a blanket and noisemakers on New Years Eve. The amount of time I spend fantasizing about cute cocktail parties I want to hold in the future is inversely proportional to the amount of time I actually spend partying. Also, the amount of parties I am invited to. SHUT UP, I'M NORMAL.

P.S.

I made a Tumblr! Because I often come across nice things or have random thoughts that aren't really worthy of an entire blog post. That and I obviously need another internet gimmick to check constantly, instead of doing my homework. So add me or follow me or tumble (?) me or whatever the lingo the kids are using!

the as if conundrum.

2009-12-15T21:02:00.005-05:00

As a five year old, I was overexposed to late nineties romantic teen comedies and desperately wanted to be a sixteen year old girl with a car, a boyfriend, and a computer operated closet. Now that I've been sixteen for three weeks, I just want to be my five year old self who had the confidence to wear leopard pants and didn't have an abundance of homework stopping me from watching late nineties romantic teen comedies all day.I still find this to be the most technologically advanced thing ever.

we interrupt this program for a very important announcement

2009-11-20T16:51:00.005-05:00

YOU. RIGHT THERE. READING THIS PATHETIC EXCUSE FOR A BLOG. I need your help. You see, there's this fantastic independent fashion journal called Worn. Last week, the kind, extremely well dressed folks there sent me an issue.

Just as I had finally finished whittling the giant wood block of homework I had into a delightful gnome, ready to sing praises of Worn and how if it were a person, it would be your friend's cool older sister who is always wearing some awesome vintage getup and always sounds smart and funny AND YOU WANT TO BE JUST LIKE HER AND YOU WRITE IN RUN ON SENTENCES AND USE ALL CAPS TO CONVEY PASSIONATE EMOTIONS, I hear this news.

YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT. Some no good, scum-between-my-toes dirtbags hacked into the lovely folk's bank account, and now they can't pay distribution costs. Mind you, the Wornettes are all volunteers, to boot!

So, dig between your sofa cushions, hold a bake sale, or interpretive dance on the side of the road with a tip jar, whatever you can do to scrounge up some moolah to help out one of the greatest fashion zines of our time!

someone in my dictionary's up to no good

2009-11-02T23:53:00.001-05:00

When it rains it pours, homework-wise. I'm really happy about that because I was beginning to worry I would be able to have time to blog/enjoy life again. I need to stop making excuses. If I have time to record fifteen minute videos of me eating chocolate pudding whilst simultaneously lip synching show tunes (a skill that, I must admite, I am quite proud of) for my friends, I have time for blogging GOSHDARNIT.

I'm giving up on this whole "hair" concept.

I made one of these Formspring contraptions, where you anonymously ask me questions or gush out your feelings or talk about some really great food you had and I can live vicariously through your stomach, and then I'll post and answer them here. My dear pal Hazel has one and I've admired it for sometime and because I am going through such a rut thought it might liven things up a bit around here (Have you noticed? This blog has become a bunch of posts of me complaining about complaining about not posting and then taking angsty self-portraits.)

So please, ask way, dear friends.

fixing a hole.

2009-10-04T21:38:00.007-04:00

Why do I never consistently post?

a.) I am currently swimming a sea of homework.

b.) I am just lazy.

c.) I spend all my free time googling where I can find Indian food within a 5 miles radius.

d.) I am busy cutting holes in my future prom dress, ala the Viktor and Rolf number below.

e.) I'm contemplating the natural food coloring thing going on with beets.

f.) all of the above.

P.S. Take a look at the new header by Audrey Malo! Visit her Etsy shop, full of many delightful prints.

BENTO PERFECTION

2009-09-25T20:57:00.003-04:00

I would like this for lunch everyday, please.

OFF TO GO STEAM SOME RICE AND THINGS!

the entire confection.

2009-09-19T13:05:00.002-04:00

I was talking with a friend today about our favorite scenes in a movie, of all time. I determined this is mine.

Those notoriously charming folks that comment at Youtube share my feelings, more or less:

"dam tht cake looks good-i know yall r thinking it too!"

"This IS epic caek."

"Hidden scenes - The revolting fat child dies of coronary heart disease not long after."

"I would need a freaking ton of milk to get through that thing..."

"he is my hero! i chugged my capri sun when he was eating the last of the cake and screaming!"

"i totally feel like him now. cause i'm eating half a pie"

"BRUCE PWNS FAT BITCHES!" (INDEED)

school daze.

2009-09-11T20:56:00.007-04:00

My first day of school can easily be described in a single word: meh. It's not like I expected anything more than that blah blah i want to go to college blah blah everyone sucks blah teen angst. I've come to the conclusion that my ideal school is one in which Ina Garten is the principal and everyone is polite and cheery and wear dresses and we eat lobster pot pie and chocolate cake for lunch EVERY SINGLE DAY.

This is what I wore, sans the tights and a different belt. I was just lazy/sleep deprived the first day and didn't feel like taking a picture and had conveniently taken this one the other day.I KNOW I KNOW, this is such a profesh fashion blog. I mean where, in that large brilliant mind of mine, do I find such groundbreaking ensemble ideas?!

In other new, I just poured myself a bowl of chocolate chips. They've got that mystical,whiteness to them that is either A.) mold (does chocolate mold?) or B.)staleness from being in a open bag for too long. The fact that a bag of chocolate has gone uneaten in my home for so long that it's developed the said mystical whiteness is disgraceful.

How was your first day of school?

P.S. The Etsy shop is up and running! Look over there, to the right!

i was takin' a walk.

2009-09-03T21:13:00.009-04:00

Yeah. I know. Three weeks, no post. That's because I am here in the summer heat making delicate oddities to sell in my Etsy shop with my own two bear paws. Actually, this is a lie. We totally have air conditioning, I spend 12% of my day working on the Etsy shop, and I like to think of my hands as dainty and ladylike (if you are wondering, the other 82% of my time is spent eating oatmeal and choreographing dances to Hall & Oates in my basement. I HAVE MY PRIORITIES.)

I have just been wallowing in laziness until school starts next week, but amidst my lounging on the couch, I have gathered some deep, philosophical thoughts:

1. I should make a DIY version of this shirt. I saw it the other day while flipping through my mom's Lucky magazine and since I love mostly everything with bows, it sang to me. Yeah, literally jumped off the page and belted out I Was Made For You.

If the folks at Net-A-Porter think I am going to dig through my sofa cushions to come up with $135 worth of change, they are mistaken. Get me a Hanes sweatshirt from the Target boys department and some black fabric and we're in business.

2. Egg creams are delicious. Do you have chocolate syrup and milk and some seltzer and a glass and a spoon? Yes? Go make one. Your soul will thank me.

3. Project Runway is boring me, gang. And don't even say it's Lifetime's fault because a channel that has brought such masterpieces as Pregnant at Fifteen and Terror at The Mall CAN DO NO WRONG. If the challenge tonight does not lead them to a fish market where they must construct corsets entirely out of bones and duct tape, I will shake my fists in anger.

Well, that's that. The Etsy shop should be up in the next week. Start filling that jar on your kitchen counter that says "Funds to support that 15 year old mastermind with startling good looks."

summertime clothes

2009-08-17T17:12:00.005-04:00

Remember how I mentioned I was making a dress a few weeks ago? Here it is!

I don't think this picture does it justice ("Digital cameras are for sissies. I like the anticipation of the one hour photo." -my dad). This is the first thing I've sewn that has not turned out like something Holly Hobby would wear to bed (who is Holly Hobby anyway? Why am I using this reference?).

I'm a little bit sad that my classes and days of painfully awkward modeling are over. Now I'll just be returning to my ways of lounging around in my pajamas and eating peanut butter, using the excuse that it's summer and this is what I'm supposed to be doing GOSHDARNIT (In other news, I just said goshdarnit...).

That is, until school starts. I always spend the end of the summer with this illusion in my head that I will purchase a whole new polished wardrobe and an arsenal of shiny school supplies and everyone will return chipper and friendly and I will stay organized and read tons of classic literature. Seeing as I, unfortunately, do not live in a Disney Channel sitcom, this never happens.

P.S. I saw some overpriced, glued zipper flower accessories at Urban Outfitters a few days ago and felt really excited that I had successfully beat THE MAN. I'm thinking of starting an Etsy shop. What do you guys think of that?

TRUE DAT

2009-08-14T19:43:00.001-04:00

available here.

I spy a DIY: zipper flower rosettes

2009-07-31T23:23:00.002-04:00

How's you summer been going? I've been taking fashion design classes at a local college for the past few weeks. I get to broaden my sewing skill horizons, meet new kids (including eccentric sixth graders with a passion for anime. Ugh more on that later...), pretend to ballroom dance with the mannequins when I should be doing *important* things, and make funny observations about my fellow passengers on the train ride there (i.e. woman eating three snacks while reading a book on overcoming addiction to food, old man listening to 867-5309 on full volume for all to hear etc.).

ANYWAYS, I've begun to work on dress for my class's upcoming fashion show. My design involves a nice, big zipper flower.

I went in search of a good tutorial to make one, but they all either a.) were too pointy. I'm going for a rounded rosette look or b.) involved hot glue, which I am not too fond of due to a particular incident as a child involving metallic sequins and my thumb. So I decided to make my own and will now share it with you good looking folks.

Supplies

+zipper(s) with exposed metal teeth (the longer your zipper, the bigger the flower. I used several and sewed them together. Look for a bin of reject zippers in a fabric shop. They're much cheaper and work just as well.)

+scissors

+needle

+thread that corresponds to the color of your zippers

+an hour or two of your time (I got the big yellow one during 3 episodes of The Nanny)

Note: I know the following directions are not very eloquent or fantastically illustrated. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask in the comments!

1. Unzip your zipper. Cut through the teeth on each side, as close as possible to the pull, on both sides. If you are using multiple zippers, do this to them as well.

2. On all except for one zipper half, cut the flap of fabric on the other end, as close as possible.

3. Take the one zipper half with the end flap remaining. Tightly roll the fabric flap to form the basis of the flower bud. Secure with a stitch or two.

4. Wrap the zipper around the bud, spiraling downward so the teeth do not overlap. Continue until the bud of the flower is the size that you'd like.

5. Fold the zipper fabric, making a little pleat, and secure it with a stitch.

6. Stitch the edge, near the fold, of the zipper fabric to the bud. Continue stitching and pleating, every half inch or so, wrapping the bottom of the zipper around. (I know this sound complicated, but I promise once you start you will get a feel for it)

7. Once you're through stitching your zipper, stitch the end of it to the middle of the backside of the rosette.

8. If you are adding another zipper half, simply stitch it where the other half left off. Continue until the rosette is the size that you'd like it.

You can use these for all sorts of things: headbands, hair clips, pins, edgy yard decor to throw off the neighbors etc. My mind is reeling with ideas. I can't wait to make some more!

things that may or may not alter your mood considerably.

2009-07-26T18:38:00.005-04:00

1. cheap nail polish, in the approximate shade of a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle.

2. small children grocery shopping with their grandparents.

3. when waiters/waitresses tell you that what you ordered is an excellent choice. This not only heightens excitement for the meal, but it causes you to feel that you are a magnificent decision maker.

4. finding small things you'd thought you'd lost long ago (i.e. board game pieces, hair clips etc.)

5. being offered snacks.

i got you babe

2009-07-18T17:37:00.002-04:00

Sorry things have been quiet around here. I hope this makes up for it.

Have a lovely weekend!

saltwater queen.

2009-07-10T20:30:00.001-04:00

Forget those ubiquitous gladiators that everyone and their mom has (I'm not kidding. She has them. Go look in your mother's closet. I'll wait.), retro made-for-toddlers-who-run-around-the-playground sandals are where it's at!

My Saltwater Sandals came in the mail today. Even though this pair is made for women, the sizing says youth, which just makes me feel really young and vibrant and almost not drink my Metamucil. Almost. They make me so happy that I decided to go outside and frolic in joy with the woodland creatures of my yard.

It did not go over very well.

(shirt: diy of an old v-neck. One of these days I'll make a tutorial on it. Maybe. skirt: old Tommy Hilfiger dress. belt: ripped off of my mom's target shirt. A rebel I am.)

This pattern reminds me of Liberty print. I fashioned this skirt out of an old Tommy Hilfiger dress I got at TJ Maxx in the fourth grade. Radical stuff, I know.

P.S. I want to make a new header, but am photoshop/html challenged. If anyone wants to help a girl out, drop me line in the comments or email. I will pay you with my love! And a DIYed t-shirt.

do the locomotion.

2009-06-29T22:19:00.008-04:00

"Look, Ma, I can count! Look, everybody, I can count!" she cried, contrary to popular belief of many.

Guess what today is, gang? Yes, indeed it is Little Eva's birthday, but it's also the blog anniversary! *cue emotional reflection speech* This past year has been so wonderful. I've begun to gain my own sense of style and have been able to get to know so many lovely blogging folks. Thank you to the entire four, possibly five, people that read this thing. You all deserve a doughnut bacon cheeseburger for taking the time to read my ramblings.

ANYWAYS, to celebrate this momentous occasion, I put on my polka dot dress that I scored the other day at an outlet mall and then proceeded to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Living, I tell you.

Outlet malls are frightening things. Essentially, they are masses of housewives wandering around in search of khakis from 2002 being sold for twice their retail price. But by some fluke I found this French Connection dress, with a retail tag of $198, for fifteen bucks. I am just over the moon. It's so shiny and pretty and I probably should have taken a detail shot of it *facepalm*.

Excuse me while I go find a life that would permit me to regularly wear shiny cocktail dresses. Here's to another year of blogtasticness and excellent vocabulary -raises juicebox-.

sunshine in the sky and on my plate.

2009-06-22T14:20:00.000-04:00

*Note: this post contains some pretty fantastic links to some pretty fantastic videos that brilliantly illustrate the pop culture references that took me fifteen minutes to think of.

Today was the last day of my first year of high school. WHAT? WHAT IS THIS MADNESS? I still feel like I am in fourth grade (although, mentally, I basically am).

Of course, my school district has to go ahead and be all retro on us, keeping a junior high. So my freshman year of high school was sort of like the last year of what you folks call "middle school" (for some reason, I am reading this aloud in a Sophia Petrillo-esque voice and using air quotes. Just sharing that with you).

I didn't even get to experience that "High school. Whatever happens to us now will determine the rest of our lives" moment. Maybe I will experience that next year? I don't know. I cannot wrap my head around this stuff. Fourth grade intellect, remember?

But one of the many benefits of no more school is that I can now devote more time to this neglected child of a blog. That and I can stay up and watch The Nanny reruns on Lifetime. God, during the summertime, I watch Lifetime like a single lady with a subscription to Cat Fancy and multiple containers of Yoplait Light in her fridge...

So, to celebrate, I bring you cake. Cake that I technically made for my dad's birthday last week. But, in my heart, I also made it for you, my dear friend. And we haven't had a food post in so long, now have we?

Orange Layer Cake (adapted from here)

This thing has a lot of steps. Lots of creamy, delicious steps.

Orange Curd Filling:

2/3 cup sugar

3 Tbs. all-purpose flour

1 cup fresh orange juice (from about 3 large or 4 medium oranges), without pulp

2 large egg yolks

2 Tbs. salted butter

Cake:

2-1/4 cups (101/8 oz.) all-purpose flour

2-1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

1/3 cup salted butter

1/3 cup vegetable shortening

2 tsp. grated orange zest (from about 1 large orange)

1-1/2 cups sugar

3 large eggs

1 cup fresh orange juice (from about 3 large or 4 medium oranges), without pulp

Frosting:

12 Tbs. salted butter, at room temperature

4-1/2 cups (about 18 oz.) confectioners’ sugar

Dash salt

1 tsp. grated orange zest

5 Tbs. fresh orange juice

Topping:

1 orange, sliced into rings

1. Make the filling.

Whisk the sugar and flour together in a saucepan. Add the orange juice, egg yolks, and whisk that them to combine. Put the saucepan over medium-high heat and cook, whisking constantly, until the mixture boils, 3 to 4 minutes (Do not think you can be sly and walk away, keep whisking that thing like there's no tomorrow). Cook for 1 more minute, stirring constantly (it will thicken and become less cloudy). Remove from heat and stir in the butter. Transfer to a bowl, cover it with plastic wrap directly on the surface of the filling, and refrigerate. Make sure it's nice and chilled before using.

2. Bake the cake.

Heat the oven to 350 degrees (that's Fahrenheit, for all you foreign folks). Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Grease two 9x1-1/2-inch cake pans (don't cry if your pan is an inch. It will work) and line the bottom of each with a round of parchment paper (trace the bottom of your pan onto parchment and cutout). Lightly flour the side and bottom of each pan.

Using a mixer of some sort,cream together the butter, shortening, and zest. Slowly add the sugar, creaming until the mixture is light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well between additions and scraping down the sides.

Add the sifted dry ingredients, alternately with the orange juice, into the creamed mixture, beating on low speed after each addition. Pour equal amounts of batter into the prepared pans. Tap the pans against the counter before putting them in the oven (this removes air bubbles/anger issues). Bake until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean, about 28 min. Cool the cake layers in the pans for 10 min. and then loosen the layers by running a knife between the cake and the edge of the pan. Remove the layers from the pans and put them on a rack to continue cooling.

3. Frosting

Cream the butter with a mixer. Add the confectioners' sugar and salt and combine thoroughly. At this point it will look like dusty cookie batter and you will think something has gone wrong. If you have been following my directions, I can assure nothing has. If you have not, proceed to dig yourself a hole and take up residence there. Add the orange juice and mix on high speed until well blended, scraping down the sides. It will be light and creamy. Refrigerate.

4. Put this junk together.

When everything is cool, put one cake layer on a cake stand or plate (or other serving utensil of choice. I DON'T KNOW YOUR LIFE, GRRL). Spread orange filling over cake to make about a 1/4 inch later. You'll have about 1/3 cup extra that tastes scrumptious when eaten out of the fridge with a spoon at midnight. Just saying. Put the second layer on top and refrigerate until the filling has chilled again and firmed up, about 45 min. This is important. If you skip it, the filling will ooze out like the eyeballs of zombies in a low-budget horror movie.

If you're frosting has become kind of hard, beat it with a mixture or spatula. Spread a thing layer of frosting over the whole cake. This is what the folks in the business call a "crumb coat" because it loosens the "crumbs." Refrigerate the cake for about 10 min. to firm up again. Put on final layer of frosting. If the cake slides, gently push it back. Top the cake with orange slices in a flower-like pattern. Eat.

some (not so) nice things.

2009-06-02T19:27:00.004-04:00

Today is just one of those days. Realized I was wearing my shoes that fall off unless I flex my ankle in a particular way, while running in pursuit after my departing bus. Failed my geometry test. Became aware that my bumblebee undies are visible through the dress I have worn 3 times in the past week. Terrif.

OH AND HAVE YOU HEARD? Archie has officially chosen Veronica. Just not a good day for nice girls.

But on a lighter note, have you seen Glee? You must. If you value our relationship (yes, you), you will go watch it.

And lastly,

Vivienne Westwood for Melissa jelly heels. Perfect for folks who are prone to spilling on their shoes, like me. Forget anything I have ever said I wanted on this here blog. I just want these on feet. Soon.

500 Days of Summer

2009-05-25T14:49:00.004-04:00

Movie Trailers - Movies Blog

I'm quite excited for this movie. Zooey Deschanel+cute dress+Joseph Gordon Levitt+ Ikea = can do no wrong.

incidents.

2009-05-19T02:21:00.004-04:00

For lack of a better post, some highly intelligent thoughts:

+Thursday I go to the big hoe down (could that be a pun? i think that could be a pun) in my school gym. Read: not excited. All I can say is that there better be some brownie bites at this function or else I will stand around and sulk over missing a 30 Rock repeat.

+Ikea is becoming my favorite place in the world. I don't need Billy Mays-like screaming to convince me to buy something. I just need someone to slap on a name like Heidltorg to a potato peeler and I'll buy three. Oh and they have $1 frozen yogurt there.

+There is currently a zit protruding from my chin. According to the internets, this one could be classified as a nodule. Just thought you should know. Seriously, looking for a good time? Go to google images and search pimple diagrams.

+I am thinking of blogging about food. Or a food blog. Could you guys handle that? Would you read it? WOULD YOU?

+I got some matte red lipstick for that said occasion. It sort of makes me feel like 40's screen siren and not someone who has a legitimate fear of breaking their ankle because they cannot walk in heels.

+Speaking of the word legitimate can we stop abbreviating it, teenage society/people who like to appear like aholes . I am not very down with the kids these days (Example:Where was I at 11:30 Friday night? Watching Golden Girls. On Lifetime.), but when I hear someone add "legit" to a statement it overrides all truth.

"I bought this Rolex for $15. And I ate ice cream for breakfast! Like legit!"

Alright. Uh huh. I'm on to you,kid. Maybe legit just means "cool," "tight,"or "rad." I don't know, but excuse me while I go fix myself a glass of Metamucil and OJ and turn the dial on my television to Wheel of Fortune.

P.S.

These days are rough, you guys. I mean, we are in a RECESSION. A girl needs to take all necessary measures to claims dibs on her sort of rotting morning banana half.

apple tree.

2009-05-05T17:30:00.007-04:00

YIPPEEEEE. I've been tagged by Hazel the magnificent. You should go read her blog because it is really the cream of the crop. It is like the Betty White of blogs (i.e. inspiring,original, uh GOLDEN).

For you pleasure, here are 7 random things about yours truly...

1. I always eat my food at home with a dessert fork. It doesn't matter in a restaurant, just when I'm eating at home. My mom used to give me one to use when I was little because it was easier to hold and I've never broken the habit. I'm sort of worried that one day I will be married with kids, still eating dinner with a dessert fork.

2. I have a vinyl collection, but no record player. It's kind of depressing.

3. Someone threw a rock through my front window last week. I wish there was some cool reason for it, like a riot breaking out between my neighbors over who's chrysanthemums are prettier. But no, it was just some ultra classy kids who obviously cannot achieve thrills by swinging on tree branches like myself. Sigh.

4.I don't like Doritos. Fake cheese powder creeps me out.

5. I think bruised apples are the the best kind of apple.

6. My favorite movies are ones about dysfunctional families.

7. I hate brushing my teeth. It's not that I don't do it, it just makes me feel like my life is repetitive and tastes like fake mint.

I think I shall tag Kat, Mary, and Anna.

twitter dat

2009-04-26T19:05:00.005-04:00

So, you guys. I have joined the masses. I got a Twitter. (twitter.com/quirkyandco FTW!) Actually, I got it a few weeks ago. As in like a month ago. I am just lazy and inconsiderate and do not share this news with all three of the people who read my blog (HI).

Anyways, you can know when I lose my hairclips, when my mom makes lasagna, when I go run over squirrels with my bike for fun etc., all in real time! Actually, not. I can't figure out how to text my tweets (Tweets?! What has become of me?), so for now it goes like this:

Me: OMG! I just found a quarter on the sidewalk! I must scamper on home and twitter this!

So please follow me. I promise you it will be not cool or interesting or funny. This, however, is.

Ok. There is some chocolate soymilk that is currently beckoning me to the fridge.

person i really like: Gilda Radner

2009-04-21T21:34:00.000-04:00

Gilda Radner once said "I base most of my fashion taste on what doesn't itch.” She was funny in a time where boys dominated comedy. She made frizzy, unruly hair cool. For these reasons, she is my hero and should be yours too.

She paved the way for all of the Amy Poehlers and Tiny Feys of today and it makes me sad that during a recent conversation none of my friends knew of the comical genius that brought us such master pieces as this and this.

And in other Gilda related wonderments, this t-shirt is pretty rad too.

a semi-educational moment

2009-04-05T20:09:00.003-04:00

This needs to be addressed.
exhibit A:

exhibit B:

I apologize that this blog has become a menagerie of video clips. We'll be back to normal very soon.

you make everything groovy.

2009-03-26T17:31:00.003-04:00

If this doesn't make you feel warm and fuzzy inside, nothing will.

note to self {an open letter}.

2009-03-15T15:14:00.007-04:00

This picture has nothing to with anything. It just makes me smile.

+Blog more. You have ran out of excuses,young lady.

+Send camera away to be fixed for what seems to be the 12th time in the last 3 months.

+Chastise boy who knocked your camera to the ground because he got slightly too into his Single Ladies rendition on a daily basis.

+Attempt two-toned lips. This could be super rad and just generate confused looks from all of your peers.

+Make flower headband tutorial as soon as camera is nursed back to health. See bullet #2.

+Stop lurking on Facebook. You have more important things to do. See bullet #1.

+Watch this movie. And this one too.

+Start making more lists. This seems to be curing your procrastination a little bit. {listography}

{image found here. i hope they don't mind}

such a funny thing for me to try to explain.

2009-03-01T16:07:00.006-05:00

In case you were wondering,I am alive. I've been kind of sort of busy with a semi-ish life (shocking, I know). And the Book Cover Archive has been sucking up all of my free time like a Bounty paper towel (bah dum ching!... no?).

There is so much I should talk about (fashion week, The Oscars etc) , but you've probably heard enough. And besides, today is a snow day all I want to do is go eat pancakes and watch the food network and listen to this song.

Spectacular.

the haircut of cool kids and neurotics alike.

2009-02-13T20:44:00.008-05:00

When I was a toddler, all of my haircut requests were denied. This is just one of the many perils of growing up with curly locks (which includes the ubiquitous "boing-ing." Seriously, folks, my hair is not public domain. You may not pull on it as you please.)

Bangs? No. Anything above shoulder length? Don't even think about it. But, by far, the most coveted, the haircut I most longed for was the bowlcut. I mean, just take a moment and think about it. One acquires a bowlcut by placing a bowl on top of their hair and cutting off the excess. If that does not show how we as a civilization have progressed, then tell me, WHAT DOES?

So, naturally, when I came across this t-shirt at Blood Is The New Black (which, for your information, is a really quite cool site that is a lot less emo-ish than it sounds), my former love affair with bowlcuts was rekindled. I'm currently trying to convince my mom that at $15, this shirt is much cheaper than the years of therapy I would have needed after enduring my formidable Teddy Graham years known as "the kid with the curly bowlcut."

P.S. One of my (many) neuroses was published over at the simply brilliant i am neurotic. I'm not sure if they post all of the ones they receive, but this is just a shining moment in the obsessive compulsive life that I lead.

how come there's oregano in the walnuts?

2009-02-07T23:22:00.005-05:00

I watched this when I was little simply because I thought their clothes were cute. I now realize this is possibly the greatest film ever. And they're clothes are still really cute.

and now back to our regularly scheduled programming.

2009-02-02T20:32:00.005-05:00

Instead of studying last night, I made this headband. But it's alright, I'm pretty certain those flowers are imparting tons of knowledge into my head.

Today's goal was to receive zero hipster references. My art teacher told me I look "very nineteen 20's." What's that I hear? The sweet sound of success? Yes, I think so.

Shirt: sister's hand-me-down (H&M). Tank: Target. Skirt: It's actually an AA dress. I wear it unhealthy amounts, which you wouldn't know of course because of my sporadic blogging. Tights:mom's. Shoe: Nine West. Headband: it's fuchsia, I swear.

my two best friends are a tomato and Liza Minelli.

2009-01-15T23:24:00.003-05:00

Uh so guess who broke their camera the other night? I'll give you a hint. Her name rhymes with Schmabby (note: textbooks on top of your bed WILL NOT provide a stable surface for one's camera when one is being lame and attempting to take artsy outfit pics. It will not hesistate to slip and fall.)

So while the kind camera docs work all sorts of magic and I continue to fail at life, let's just all just enjoy the amazingness that is Penelope, mmkay?

been an awful good girl.*

2009-01-06T21:30:00.002-05:00

I hope you've had a lovely holiday, full of so-ridiculous-that-you-can't-look-away Lifetime movies and lasagna and reading books in your pajamas all day and procrastinating schoolwork and magic. (What? Yours wasn't? That's just me? Oh, well, it's been quite nice.) As far as Christmas loot goes, I made out like a bandit. And by bandit, I mean one who wears red patent leather pumps.I have stalked these shoes since I spotted them, while window shopping last April. Just like a crazed junkie who stalks her ex-husband in the aforementioned Lifetime movies, our relationship was unhealthy. The display pair happened to be my size, which means I inexplicably had to try them on every time I walked by the Marc by Marc display every few months or so. I would stare at my foot longingly and whenever the kind salespeople asked if I needed any help I'd just say "NO.NO THANKS. UNLESS I CAN PURCHASE THESE WITH THE FOURTEEN CENTS AND COUPON FOR A FREE ICED COFFEE THAT HAVE TO MY NAME...NO!"

Fast forward to Black Friday: I spot them on the sale rack 60% off. I squeal. My mom says I do not need designer red patent pumps, especially with my tendency to jump in puddles/lack of social life that would allow me the opportunity to wear red patent pumps. Besides, even at 60% off, they are still much too much. I try to thoroughly convey to her that if these shoes were a boy, I would marry them. The saleslady jumps in the argument and tells my mom these shoes are a great deal and, hey look, the bottom is made of genuine leather, she'll even scratches them to prove this us. Um, thanks a heap for scratching my dream shoes, lady. I attempt to sweet talk her into giving us a better discount and fail. Miserably.

On Christmas morning I spot a giant package. I suspect that it is a waffle iron and become really excited. Turns out, it's the pumps, hidden in a giant package (those rascal folks of mine).My mom went back a week later and the shoes were marked down even more. When they are not on my feet, I plan on placing them on a shelf where I will feed them bon bons and whisper sweet nothings into their ears.

Oh and I also did get a waffle iron, along with this recipe binder my mom made with a bunch of pictures from an old food magazine she found at the thrift store. I think it kind of upstages the shoes. I mean, DO YOU SEE HOW THAT JELLO MOLD GLISTENS?

*This was supposed to be posted a week ago. Did you really take me for that much of a procrastinator (don't answer that...)Blogger and I were going through a bit of a tiff, but now we're besties again.

the boy least likely to.

2009-01-03T19:44:00.004-05:00

This video and this song just make me insanely happy. Especially at times like these, when winter break is ending and I just realized I have a day to write a ten page essay. Fudgesicles. (Resolution # 1: Stop procrastinating. And blog more. And stop eating chocolate chips out of the bag...)

P.S. Blogger has been acting like a hormonal teenage girl for the past few days. I promise a belated holiday post for your viewing pleasure as soon as it gets it's act together.

a public service announcement.

2008-12-17T22:32:00.010-05:00

Listen to your weatherman. Do not wear rubber shoes when he says it will sleet and hail the size of everlasting gobstoppers will fall on your head. Just because your little piggies are slightly claustrophobic does that mean you should give into their desires by wearing footless tights.

Just say no. Or they'll end up like this.

Why hello there, pleased to make your aquaintance.

Shirt/skirt: H&M. Tights: stolen from my mom.Shoes: Target. Hair: not cooperating.Ever. Pose:awkward. Apologies.

shoelexia.

2008-12-12T23:28:00.004-05:00

Some mornings I stumble out of bed and can't make coherent outfits/thoughts. I can't distinguish what is a sweater and what is a sneaker. If I do not have adequate amounts of pancakes and/or orange juice in my system, there is good chance you can find me walking to the bus without pants.

For days like those, these would really come in handy.

i am just a cotton headed ninny-muggins.

2008-12-01T18:43:00.009-05:00

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving, my dear. I kept busy by baking colossal amounts of pie, entertaining bum college students, and watching Bolt in 3D (the most intense movie.EVER).

Today is my birthday* and I just opened my shiny new camera, which means pretty soon we'll have real live photos, folks (gasp). Until then, I am just sitting around watching Elf, eating this birthday cake that I am convinced is Hanukkah themed, and wondering if me and Buddy were separated at both. We both enjoy the same pastimes (see: making snow angels, smiling, eating Tollhouse cookie dough, snuggling etc.)

Oh and I'm also loathing the rain. For crying out loud, it's not even snow, it's just weird sort of slippery sleet stuff that seeps into your socks and gives you the sniffles. And I can't even wear a cute raincoat. I just resemble Randy from a Christmas Story (You know, in that part where his mom makes him where like 12 parkas and he can't fend off the bullies. STORY OF MY LIFE) for most of the wintertime. I need some alternatives to keep me toasty...

1.Yokoo Citron Snuggler, Etsy, $50. This is essentially the outerwear equivalent of your childhood blankey. Basically anything by Yokoo has my heart.

2.Long Yellow Gloves, Forever 21, $6.80. My mom came home with these bad boys last week and I keep *borrowing* them.

3.Aspen Anorak, Delias, $79.50. This would keep me warm without the whole Michelin Man look.

walking on sunshine.

2008-11-17T20:06:00.005-05:00

I'm sitting here wearing these flats . I swear, every time I look at them I smile a little. Unfortunately, I have to take them off soon and bid adieu for two weeks, as they're supposed to be a birthday gift. And I was so close in kidnapping them and their lemony yellow goodness...

Me: -hears the mailman- The mail's here. I shall go get it! -squeals at sight of Urban Outfitters package-
Mom: Is there anything good?
Me: Um...nope...no...not at all. Nothing. Just a Dr. Leonard's* catalogue and some bills.
Mom: What's in that box?
Me: Bagels with lox? That sounds great!
Mom:What?
Me:What? -smuggles box-
*seriously, if you know what this is, can we be lifelong friends?

And speaking of birthdays, I am now the proud owner of a Canon Powershot randomnumbersidonotbothertoacknowledge. That, too, was unable to be kidnapped despite my best efforts with the awkward Best Buy kid. You'll just have to wait until December for this blog to become slightly less lame.

EPIC EPIC EPIC.

2008-11-12T22:34:00.001-05:00

Words fail me.{available here}

peanut butter & jams.

2008-11-10T19:04:00.009-05:00

Sometimes procrastination is my best time of productivity. How is that possible, you may ask? Well, let's just say I should be doing something important, like studying for a biology exam, and I decide I must go bake cookies at once.

Or I get all crafty and decide to make an iMix just for you, my dolls, like I *might* have done last night when I should have been studying for, er, biology.* Plus, you know those 30 second snippets are the greatest way to kill time.

I can't figure out how to copy the picture with all the record covers (if you know how, please share). Until then, let's admire flickr user iirraa's triple decker pb&j, shall we?
Quirky & Co. Playlist 1

Judy is a Punk - The Ramones

Dancing With Myself - Nouvelle Vague

Oxford Comma - Vampire Weekend

Immigrant Song - Led Zeppelin

Sympathique - Pink Martini

Manhattan - Ella Fitzgerald

Wild Horses - The Rolling Stones

Funny Face - Ella Fitzgerald

Kiss Off - Violent Femmes

Mrs. Robinson - Simon & Garfunkel

I Feel It All - Feist

Play With Fire - The Rolling Stones

My Brain Is Hanging Upside Down - The Ramones

Yes, it's a bit random. I have no extraordinary music discovery skills. Please enjoy.

*Whenever teachers tell us that every single exam is vital to our future, I appease myself with dreams of being discovered in a book store and then becoming a supermodel. The fact that I have no idea where the golgi apparatus is won't matter then, now will it?

my legs don't ask for much.

2008-11-09T00:08:00.005-05:00

They just wanted a pair of these polka dot tights. So I forked over my hard earned $5.99 for them. (Now, it is brought to my attention that they should've been $4.19. WHAT GIVES TARGET? RIPPING OFF A 14 YEAR OLD? REALLY?)

P.S. I know this blog is terribly blah, as of late. Coming soon: camera.

I rather feel like expressing myself now.

2008-10-22T17:11:00.004-04:00

Funny Face came on cable the other night and it reminded me of this epic beyond words Gap commercial.

And then it got me thinking: I really miss choreographed Gap ads.

shewz.

2008-10-21T16:14:00.005-04:00

20 years ago today, Imelda Marcos was charged with fraud and racketeering. Proof that you can have too many shoes (1060 too many pairs, to be exact).

I find it to be no coincidence (seriously, I get mail like once a decade) that I just so happened to come home to find a Delias catalog in the mail that included many pairs I want. Badly. I thought "Who still shops at Delias? It's such a tacky teenybopper store." Apparently, I should be shopping at Delias.

Clockwise from right, Charlotte $39.50, Doc Martens $110.50, Tabitha $39.50,Lissa $39.50

Thankfully, you can afford to buy these without being indicted.

my dog ate my blog.

2008-10-18T22:17:00.003-04:00

This is a note to all four of my dear readers who have been wondering why this blog is such a disappointment as of late. I wish I could say that I was in a third world country, helping small orphans and contracted a mysterious virus that impairs my blogging habits, but the truth is that I have been sitting around eating unhealthy amounts of bacon and watching Barefoot Contessa (Ina Garten is my role model, people. For real).

"Next, just add 6 sticks of butter and 3 cups of bacon drippings! Pop it in the oven and then pour some chocolate on top. How gorgeous is that?" Hearts.

Oh and, in case I haven't said it 12 times before, my camera has taken a one-way ticket to Deadsville (one way ticket to Deadsville? I need to get out more) . We all know a blog without a camera is like a book without pages (I cannot fathom how deep I am). After pestering my parents and preparing them elaborate meatloaf and chocolate cake dinners, they have agreed to buy me a camera for my birthday.

So, you're wondering, why should I care? This means that in one short month there will be awkward photo shoots, failed DIY projects, and baked goods galore around here. Stay tuned.

a public service announcement.

2008-10-15T21:00:00.003-04:00

Save 57 predictable minutes of your life and look at the Project Runway collections here. Because I bet you all an ice cream cake that the finale will go like this:

Darn you, Kenley. I want to hate you, but this is so so so cute.

10:00-10:08: "OMG TODAY IS THE BIG DAY. BRYANT PARK IS MY DREAM. -TEARS-"

10:10-10:20: A model will not show up. Someone will have an emotional breakdown. Tim Gunn will make everything better. The model shows up, albeit extremely hungover. Everyone is happy.

10:25- 10:27: Heidi Klum spiels in a miniskirt.

10:30-10:45: We finally see the clothes.

10: 45- 10:57: "Impeccable taste blah blah blah slutty slutty blah blah blah ..." -Michael Kors

*We tune in*

10:59: The winner is announced (TEAM LEANNE) and I am finally free from the most uninspiring season yet. Phew.

So, please, do yourselves a favor and tune into the Presidential Debate instead. Or, if you want to really shake things up, the Phillies vs. Dodgers game. Yes, even a baseball game amuses me more than this season.

even better than the marshmallow variety.

2008-10-08T19:33:00.016-04:00

Peeps.org is very lovely site I stumbled upon. Everything looks completely wearable and unique. Nothing costs over $65. I'm quite postive I need every single thing there. Yes, indeed.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go dig through my sofa cushions for some spare change.

Legalize Frostitution

2008-09-30T11:55:00.003-04:00

Maybe when I called this shirt the greatest tee ever, I spoke too soon. (available here)

High. Waisted. Let the good times roll.

2008-09-29T23:00:00.009-04:00

No, no, dear reader, I am not participating in substance abuse, mind you. I am just infatuated by my new skirt. You know if I *had a camera* maybe I could capture myself wearing it, along with today's outfit, in it's shiny, happy, yellow glory, awkward poses and all.

But, alas, my photographic friend has faced one too many frightening encounters with bowls of cake batter (please, don't ask). No worries, folks, my handy dandy pack of 25 Sharpies and ancient scanner are here to save the day! Look, I even managed to capture the awkward pose!
P.S. Supertalent Courtney from Shopaholic Chic achieved Maharishi t-shirt DIY success! If my procrastination does not get the best of me, I'll attempt my own version soon.

P.S.S. (or is it P.P.S?) My thoughts on last weeks Project Runway: YOU DO NOT MESS WITH TIM GUNN, KENLEY. WATCH YOUR BACK.

I'd like to supersize that,please, Miuccia.

2008-09-23T21:02:00.007-04:00

This book makes me insanely happy. It's like Fast Food Nation for the fashion industry. Possible book club read? (Speaking of which, you all need to join. NOW.)

Project Runway Recap: Outsie Daisy*

2008-09-17T20:22:00.005-04:00

I'm so very sorry about the lack Project Runway posts, dear reader, but, like I've said before, this show is getting on my nerves. I was a very very bad viewer and went ahead and looked at the Bryant Park collections on line.

Let me tell you, I'm pretty certain who is going to win that I'd bet a pan of Nutella brownies (heads up, I'm going to attempt to create these in the coming weeks) over it. Yep.

Alrighty then, here are some of my thoughts on last night's episode:

+When Joe first mentioned "skirt suit" my reaction went something like this "-no surprise whatsoever- Uh, come one Joe. NO ONE wears a a skirt suit, unless of course it's 1984 and your name is Alexis Carrington Colby. That's right, a Dynasty reference, I WENT THERE. You know what, wait, no. You probably took that as a compliment, being that when you call something 'sharp,' you're not referring to a pair of scissors. No siree."

Although, his final look seemed fit for someone who wanted be a "sexy librarian" for Halloween and failed miserably.

+ Dear Jerrell,

Effective immediately: please abort all wearing of chapeaus that resemble the love child of a portobella mushroom and a tarantula.

Signed,

The Committee For The Well Being of All Humanity

+Dear Kenley,

No one likes you anymore, well, except you. Sure, you dress super cute and we often drool over your hair accessories, but I'm convinced your only good qualities are dressing super cute and making drool worthy hair accessories. Get a muzzle already.

Signed,

The Greater Good of All Mankind

+Be warned: I dry heaved, then got down on my hands and knees, begging the Lord to give me my sight back after my retinas were burned from the picture below.

*I'm not quite sure why the episode was called this, because Joe is out,maybe? But he is, certainly, no daisy. No, no, he is more like a dandelion, and not even in the cute "Aww, look at the dandelion!" way, more like the "Why have you lasted so long in my yard, even though you deserved to be weeded weeks ago?" sort of way.

Little. But oh so big.

2008-09-16T19:04:00.009-04:00

I have come to realize the fact that I am a cold, heartless person. Why,dear reader, you may ask? Well it goes a little something like this:

I stumbled upon these looks from Little Marc by Marc Jacobs. Instead of cooing to myself "Aww, look at the chic little children. Too cute!,"the monster inside me started uttering unladylike phrases of jealously. "You are five. You will get spaghetti sauce all over that. Darn you, five-year-old hipster!"

I then quickly reminded myself that it is a good week when I have only gotten food on two of my shirts. So, I will just look up (or down, i guess...) to these tots for some outfit inspiration, because really, can we ever have enough?

Oh, just the greatest tee. Ever.

2008-09-12T15:59:00.007-04:00

Why must you cost $69 AUD? According to my Google guided calculations, that's $55.53. Don't you know that my weekly income consists of $0.85 and some Canadian coin I found in my couch?

I will now proceed to pray to the Forever 21 gods for a cheap imitation. Le sigh.

Red Velvet Cake Bites*

2008-09-11T22:12:00.010-04:00

These cake bites (via Bakerella) are quite possibly the greatest achievement in cake since the cupcake. Yes, they're that amazing.

Want to make new pals? Make your parents forget about that "intimate gathering" with 56 of your closest friends you held while they were out of town last week? Make these. People will worship at your feet.

While my attempt to make them was certainly not as pretty, they we're scrumptious. Be warned: the cute little bite factor will fool you into eating five. Or seven. Believe me, I know -wallows in self guilt-.

*Bakerella actually calls these Red Velvet Cake Balls. I just have a weird qualm about eating desserts associated with the word "balls".I blame it all on this EPIC SNL skit I was traumatized by as a small child:

Highly Coveted Objects (Part 2 of 10607)

2008-09-08T20:47:00.004-04:00

There is too much to love about this t-shirt dress by Maharishi. Oh the trompe l'oeil necklace! The puff sleeves! Somebody get me a hanes tee and some fabric paint, stat. I spy a DIY in my future.

All The Cool Kids Are Doing It.

2008-09-04T16:32:00.012-04:00

That's right,folks, anybody who's anybody is joining the Quirky & Co. Book Club.

I've decided that our first Quirky and Company book club read will be I Was Told There'd Be Cake by Sloane Crosley. I know I'm being a bit of a book club tyrant (if there ever was such a thing...) by picking the book without the highly intelligent opinions of you, dear reader, but I chose it because a.) after reading the first few essays of the book, I've deemed it quite hilarious, b.) I thought since we can't have real snacks, we might as well read a book with cake in the title,C.) just look how darn pretty that cover is, and d.) I had a coupon for 20% off bestselling paperbacks and we all know that I am a cheapskate.

If you'd like to join:

1. Post a comment expressing your interest.

2. Mosey on over to your local bookstore or library (or bum your friend with really great taste in literature's copy) and pick up a copy of the book.

3. Devour every single page of it by the end of September (Don't worry, if you don't finish it until October 1st, we won't kick you out, I'll just give you really dirty looks from behind my my computer monitor.Kidding!).

4. E-mail me (quirkyandcompany@gmail.com) your thoughts, likes/dislikes, and favorite parts etc. of the book to be included in an upcoming post.

P.S. If you're a member of the Teen Vogue forums, let me know, so, just like the twinset wearing, crudites eating counterparts, we can coordinate an actual discussion.

Gossip Girl (and Boy)

2008-09-02T21:24:00.014-04:00

I'm digging this fall look from Lorick by Abigail Lorick (via NYMag). If you remember correctly, dear reader, she got her start when Gossip Girl used her line as Eleanor Waldorf's on the show. Speaking of Gossip Girl, did anyone else tune in the other night? Did anyone else catch the annoyingly obnoxious product placements for Dunkin' Donuts, Vitamin Water, and a bajillion other things?

I really love to hate Gossip Girl. I've come to the realization that I cannot watch that show without screaming at the television in disgust multiple times. "YOU ARE ALL SPOILED BRATS. Yes, even you, Humphrey children ,who live on the "wrong side of the tracks." Last time I checked, Jenny, poor kids don't carry multiple Foley and Corinna bags and live in chic Williamsburg lofts!"

"You all need to go to church on your way to rehab!""Come on, Nate, you can do so much better than that Botox injected cougar. Seriously, this whole hot teenage boy affair plot is the most overdone thing in television. Desperate Housewives anyone?"

I'm really quite tired of everyone looking to Blair and Serena as the style icons of the show. Last night's headband count was a very disappointing 4. Maybe that's because they're in the Hamptons and they're supposed to be "relaxed" or something (I wouldn't know how one is suppose to dress in the Hamptons. I only know that is where Ina Garten magically makes roast chicken and chocolate cake while donning a denim smock.).

I think we all need to direct our attention to the real style icon of this show, Mr. Chuck Bass. Yep, some are even calling him the next Carrie Bradshaw.

Is it weird that I find myself wondering "Where can I get a shrunken version of that blazer Chuck is sporting?" Yeah, I thought so...

P.S. Please read this reality index of the episode. It will make you spit out your water onto the keyboard like I *might* have done just a few minutes ago.

Highly Coveted Objects (Part 1 of 9387)

2008-09-01T14:03:00.017-04:00

Today is September 1st. I am grieving. I just polished off a breakfast of lumberjack proportions. I am moping around in shorts with an elastic waistband (yes, dear reader, you read that correctly). These facts could only mean one thing: summer is over (actually, I do mope around in unattractive sweats and eat a huge breakfast everyday...hmm). Soon, I have to return to that scary, ugly, and sort of slimy (seriously, folks, I have learned the hard way that you should not wear your pretty shoes to school unless you would like them to end up covered in unidentifiable trashcan liquid at the end of the day) place called school.

I WOULD have posted my potential first day outfits here, IF I had a working camera AND a cord to upload photos. I MIGHT have even shown you my AMAZING lavender skinny jeans that I got on SALE. Or the Doo Ri Chung/Teen Vogue DIY shirt that surprisingly turned out wearable after the 8 HOURS I spent creating it. Or MAYBE even my red belt that I found at Goodwill for $1.99, but alas, I cannot, because me and technology aren't friends at the moment.

So, instead, I'll just appease you with these pretty things that I want for fall.

1. American Apparel Striped Cardigan. Even though your ads often times resemble something you might find in a publication hidden underneath a pubescent boy's bed (AHEM.WINK,WINK. COUGH,COUGH), American Apparel, I will not hesitate to hand over my hard earned $44 dollars for this cardigan. It's just that perfect.

2.Marc By Marc Jacobs Patent Pumps. I hate you, Bloomingdale's shoe sale rack. I hate it when you toy with my emotions when you hold these beauties, which I have been swooning over for the last 3 months, in my size, underneath the sign that clearly reads "TAKE AN EXTRA 40% OFF!" I hate it when said shoes fit like a glove the salesgirl informs me that they are misplaced and are, in fact, not on sale. -Intense anger towards inanimate object-.

3. Old Navy Turquoise Patent Belt. Not only is this belt pretty and affordable, it kind of reminds me of the blue Fruit Rollups (and anyone worth knowing will tell you the blue Fruit Rollups are the best kind).

Project Runway Recap: This Show is Driving ME Crazy

2008-08-28T14:28:00.009-04:00

I know, dear reader, you're probably thinking "Where are your Project Runway recaps? Huh? I want to hear your slightly witty banters on drag queens in sequin sailor suits and cocktail numbers constructed entirely out of seatbelts! Give me my recaps, woman, or else."

Or, most likely, you're thinking "Hmm, she hasn't posted a Project Runway Recap in a while...oh boy, I never realized how many bagel crumbs there are on my keyboard...crap, I forgot to return Definitely, Maybe to Blockbuster..."

Can we all just direct our attention to the way Tim looks in this picture? I heart him.

I'm suffering a mild case of the Project Runway blues, so I thought I'd take a little break from the recaps. Don't fret though, here is an absolutely hilarious recap for those of you who missed it. Now that Keith and his annoying feel-sorry-for-me-I-live-in-Utah attitude are gone, I might be able to return next week with my most vibrant recap ever.

P.S. Tim Gunn recently described Miley Cyrus' style as "too tarty." Yet another reason why we love you, Tim (No, I do not read Page Six all day. I found this on the Best Week Ever Blog, thank you very much).

Dear Madewell 1937,

2008-08-27T18:31:00.011-04:00

Please, stop toying with my emotions. I am just a kid, for crying out loud. Why must you show me this extremely lovely lookbook of things I can't have or afford? Yes, I get it, you make the most insanely perfect boots ever. Your scarves are a thing of beauty, I know.

Stop being so darn effortlessly chic and cool like the J.Crew little sister that you are. You see that little smirk the model, above, is sporting? That smirk says "Yep, that's right. I get to WEAR these clothes and you, Gabby, cannot because you live in Someplace, Somewhere, where they do not have a Madewell 1937. I'm pretty sure sunshine is just about to radiate out of my tush any second now because I am just so darn happy to be wearing this perfect schoolboy blazer, not to mention get my picture taken with it. Now, excuse me while I go change into my expertly washed denim that you can't have."

You're launching an online shop soon, says the huge message when we enter your site. Until you get your act together, Madewell, I will scrimp and save my meager allowance for a trip to your nearest location. In which case, my monthly income of $0.57 will barely pay for me to back out of the driveway. Great, now I've wasted my valuable afternoon writing you this letter. I could have been digging through sofa cushions for coins or selling lemonade.

Sincerely,

Gabby

P.S. We could easily clear up all of this tension if you sent me a skinny patent belt in either red or yellow, or any color, for that matter. I'm not picky. Oh and if you threw in a pair of yellow ankle boots in a size 7.5, that would just be dandy.

The Sisterhood of The Traveling Pantsuit

2008-08-26T22:48:00.008-04:00

This is an urgent live post. As I'm sitting here at the computer, absentmindedly searching through itunes, my father is watching CNN in the background. My attention is grabbed by the fact that Hillary Clinton is sporting a NEON ORANGE PANTSUIT.
I would just like to be put on the record as the first person to document this fact.

I'm wondering if this is an attempt to direct our attention towards her, because, if so, it's working. She is grabbing our attention like a neon traffic cone. "Stop, look at me. I will go about saying I'm all for Obama, but the truth is I want you all to look at me in all of my shiny, orange glory!"

Or maybe when Blayne mentioned creating a neon pantsuit for her a few weeks back on Project Runway, she took him up on it?

Or perhaps she's actually being a comedic genious and playing up the thousands of pantsuits remarks shes gained throughout her career? In which case, we applaud her.

Update:She just used the phrase "Sisterhood of The Traveling Pantsuits." We are dying. Dying.

Even Better Update (8/28): -speechless-

I Always Wanted To Be a Tenenbaum

2008-08-25T13:34:00.012-04:00

That's right, dear reader, I finally saw The Royal Tenenbaums. I know what most of you who are thinking: "Puh-lease. Who does this kid think she is? Doesn't she know that that movie has
been out for like ever? Hasn't she realized everyone has seen it? Oh, and has she not heard about this?"

It's just that I made this plan to become more culturally educated where I would spend the entire summer watching movies and reading books I had always wanted to see, but never had.

After one week of that, I somehow ended up in a very non-culturally educating environment that consisted of watching the Food Network for hours on end and reading the entire Twilight series.

Now, summer's almost over and I've decided that my knowledge of that cream shouldn't be whipped in a metal bowl or that male vampires can get human women pregnant (I know, I know, shocking, isn't it?) isn't going to get me far. I need to at least make a tiny dent in my list.

So, after watching The Royal Tenenbaums, I have deemed it the greatest movie.EVER (well, besides Crossroads, starring Britney Spears, of course*). I'm pretty sure I even loved more than The Darjeeling Limited, and that's saying a lot. Not to mention, I think Margot has become my official style icon.

I give The Royal Tenenbaums 6 out of 5 cupcakes. That's right, 6 out of 5. It's just that special.

*Sarcasm, folks. Sheesh.

P.S. Watch the trailer for this film. It will warm your heart.

Magic Hoop

2008-08-21T19:43:00.002-04:00

Is it weird that I kind of want that kid's dress?

_Insert Every Single Synonym For Cute Here_

2008-08-21T18:59:00.008-04:00

Via Copenhagen Street Style.

We Interrupt Our Neglectful Blogging For a Not-So-Important Update

2008-08-20T17:05:00.006-04:00

Alright, alright, I know, I'm somewhat of a blogging disappointment right now. No, I haven't fallen into a giant tub of frosting or broke ankle in an attempt to wear heels for the first time, thank you for asking. I've just been busy doing really important stuff like eating Whoppers, manuevering over volcano-like formations in the middle of Pinkberry (no joke, dear reader, the floor started cracking and settling as I was enjoying my swirly goodness), and elbowing my way through angry European tourists for a $1 Marc Jacobs hairpin.

Also, my sister just had to go to college, thus taking away my only cord to upload pictures with her (HI LYD). No worries, though, a quick trip to Target and things will be back to normal around here.

In the meantime, we're coveting this LOMO Diana F+ camera, above, available at the amazingness that is fredflare.com. Yes, it's not digital, but that's okay, it instantly turns all of your photos into a piece of art and just look how darn cute it is.

Sock It To Me

2008-08-14T23:13:00.008-04:00

Coveting socks is not commonly a problem in my life. Seriously, dear reader, have you ever seen a pair of socks and thought to yourself "Wow, those are just...breathtaking. I absolutely need them" Yeah, I didn't think so. Unless, that is, you've been unlucky enough to experience frostbite, in which case, I bet socks were all you could think about...

So, as I was perusing the legwear selection of urbanoutfitters.com, I experienced sock envy when I stumbled upon these lovely specimens, below.

These socks, by Betsey Johnson, can take your ankles from,well, ankles to graceful ballerina limbs in the time it takes to tie them. I can just imagine wearing them with some colored tights underneath and a pair of black flats, while annoying everyone around me as I poorly attempt a pirouet in the middle of the hallway.

They're are available at urbanoutfitters.com for $12. Yes, $12 for socks is a bit pricey for a kid like me, with a weekly income of $0.32, but considering that they technically are Betsey Johnson-and don't say something along the lines of "for Target" after her name- and that they can enable me to channel my inner ballerina without all the hassle of enrolling in dance class, then I would call that $12 dollars well spent.

P.S. Please ignore my seriously bad attempt at a pun in the title of this post. Thank you.

Project Runway Recap: Jungle Boogie

2008-08-14T14:16:00.015-04:00

This week, Project Runway continues with a challenge fit for the jungle (the Lipstick Jungle, that is), Brooke Shields, and an outfit of "slutty, slutty, slutty!" proportions. Spoilers ahead!The best and worst (according to the judges).

Our episode begins with some rather unnecessary footage of the designers working out in the Atlas gym. Seriously, Bravo, if you're reading this, I don't care that Daniel can pump some iron in his plaid pants or that Suede can manage to break a sweat while keeping his fauxhawk intact. I just don't.

Anyways, we continue on to the model picking process, which, dear reader, if you ask me, is not what it used to be. What happened to the little black bag with those oversized nametag buttons? Heidi announces to the designers that their challenge is to create a look for a "high-powered and glamorous professional woman."

Blayne speculates that is could be Hillary Clinton, in which case he would be eliminated for creating a neon pantsuit. Stella stresses that she would love to dress Sharon Osbourne, which does not surprise us one bit.

It's finally revealed that the guest judge is Brooke Shields! Finally, a judge we can all look at and recognize (No offense to Apollo Ohno, but we were all thinking " Oh, hey, look it's that guy from the Olympics. What is he a tennis player or something? And, um, Sandra Bernhardt? Wasn't she on Will & Grace that one time?). The designers learn that they must create a day-to-night look for Shields' character, Wendy, on Lipstick Jungle.

The kids get to sketching and then present their concepts to Shields in the "Project Runway Lounge." Isn't that the room where the designers eat? Now it's the "Project Runway Lounge?" Oh, those darn producers, what will they think of next?

Brooke seems to be fond of the all of the designer's looks, even Blayne's day-to-night Bermuda short (an oxymoron? possibly...) and Kelli's super tight leopard sheath, which, according to Brooke,"It's the jungle! It's the juuuuunnngle!"

We cannot contain our excitement when the oversized nametag buttons make a comeback when Tim reveals that six designs have been chosen by Brooke, which means the designers must work in teams. Keith snaps up Kenley to work with him, which means one can only assume they've resolved their differences since the Times Square smackdown a couple of episodes back. Blayne enthusiastically picks Leanne and we can just feel how frightened she is behind those geek-chic glasses.

"You see this ponytail I'm sporting, Leanne?

It means business."

Of course, Stella is picked last, by Jerrell, because we all know this woman is only capable of creating a leatha vest. Ironically, Jerrell plans on using leather in his ensemble and the only thing we can think of is "Maybe the judges will just kill to birds with one stone and eliminate these two at once."

"That's a really nice man dress you're wearing, Jerell.

I wish it was leatha, though."

The designers head over to Mood and the drama ensues. Keith and Kenley cannot compromise which tacky floral print will suit his tacky design. Daniel behaves like the annoying girl that he is and doesn't have the guts to say to Kelli "NO! SHINY LEOPARD PLUS BLACK LACE PLUS A SKINTIGHT BLACK PENCIL SKIRT DOES NOT EVER EQUAL "HIGH-POWERED GLAMOROUS BUSINESS WOMAN"! THAT EQUALS WORKING GIRL." Or to put it simply in the words of Michael Kors, "Slutty, slutty, slutty!"

Suede and Terri cannot agree on their flowy top. Terri has a bit of a freakout that's so crude, I feel a tad bit dirty just mentioning it here.

Tim returns to the studio with a bit of news that calms that madness: the winning team's ensemble will be worn by Brooke Shields on Lipstick Jungle.

Everyone is so excited by the thought of their outfit being worn on national television that I think they begin to forget the entire point of Project Runway- a national television show, ahem.

Besides, after seeing the promo during the commercial break for Lipstick Jungle, I am quickly reminded why I never bothered to watch it.It is simply a Cashmere Mafia copycat, which, if you remember correctly, was (or is? Is it still even on the air?) supposed to be the network television attempt at Sex and The City, which was a show that I always seemed to be slightly annoyed by in the first place ( I just never was able to see the appeal in whole "Let's drink cosmos at brunch and carry designer handbags while we pretend to be intellectual and complain about our sucky relationships," concept. So basically, Lipstick Jungle is the twice watered down version of a show I didn't really like in the first place...

Anyways, on to the runway show. Did anyone else catch right before the show when Tim says "I see some of you are still sewing question mark?" Oh Tim, how we love you so exclamation mark!

Is it just me, or was the runway show utterly disappointing. Jerrell and Stella's and Keith and Kenley's seemed to be the best, but, honestly, if I saw someone wearing either in real life I'd probably say to myself "Hmm...I bet she bought that dress on clearance at Sears."

Kelli and Daniel are obviously in the bottom, along with Blayne and Leanne. Seriously, Leanne, how did you let Blayne create such an ensemble that resembles something a camp counselor, who's going out clothes were mauled by a grizzly bear and all she has left is a string of pearls and some heels to dress up her otherwise boring uniform, would wear to a night on the town.

Daniel tries to defend his outfit by saying he has "impeccable taste," which causes Kenley to laugh out loud right there, in front of the judges. Do we sense trouble ahead between these super BFFs?

Kelli: "You totally deserved to go home.

After this annoying Bravo photographer is finished,

we're gonna go outside and I'm going to show you who's boss."

Daniel: " Please, my taste is impeccable and

so are my arm muscles that I've been working on in the Atlas gym."

In the end, Kelli is auf'd. We are incredibly sad because she has always had excellent designs up to this point, but Daniel on the other hand...

No worries, though, dear reader. Next week: Drag-queens! Lots of scary, gaudy drag-queens and the scary, gaudy costumes that come with them! Ooh we can't wait exclamation point!

American Dream or Silly Scheme?

2008-08-11T21:10:00.010-04:00

I'm sure you might have heard, dear reader, that Tyra Banks is posing as Michelle Obama in the September issue of Harper's Bazaar in a shoot entitled "American Dream." The photos include Banks posing with a faux Senator Barack Obama in different scenarios worthy of a first lady. See for yourself, below.

Personally, I find this spread to be, well, a bit creepy. Prancing around with Obama children lookalikes? Lying in bed with a Harvard sweatshirt on? We know Tyra had good intentions of showing her support through the photos and the interview, but I believe the timing is off in several ways. First of all, with the recent ads targeted towards Obama by Senator John McCain, which ask "He's the biggest celebrity in the world, but is he ready to lead?," I find it not exactly in the Obama's favor for a supermodel/TV personality to be portraying them.

Secondly, I think this spread should have been reserved for after the presidential elections, if Obama were to win. Or, at the very least, when he is officially named the Democratic nominee.

The interview mainly consists of Tyra sharing her tips for a future first lady and what she would do. Honestly, dear reader, I'm not very concerned with how Tyra Banks thinks a first lady should dress ,what her reaction was when she found out Sen. Obama was the Democratic nominee, or what her Secret Service Acronym would be ("KMFA: Kiss My Fat Ass," if you must know).

I don't know about you, but what I would like to know is how Michelle Obama or Cindy McCain, the actual potential first ladies, feel towards issues like female body image in today's society or what they plan to achieve if their husbands are elected. For me, seeing these women in the magazine and reading their thoughts would have been much more influential than a supermodel basically playing dress-up.

What are your opinions, dear reader? I would love to know.

Coconut Lime Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

2008-08-09T15:24:00.000-04:00

I'm am extremely excited to share this recipe with you, dear reader. Why, you may ask? Well, it's because I created it on my own. That's right, we decided to stop obeying the man (or woman? Or,er, cupcake gods? I'm not really sure where this is headed...) and create our own recipe. Okay, actually we followed a vanilla cupcake recipe and added lime, swapped the coconut milk for milk, and reduced the vanilla.

In other words, I did the dirty work for you. Now, when all your adoring friends ask where you found this scrumptious little cupcake recipe you can tell them "Oh, this lovely little girl over on the blogosphere named Gabby." Actually, no, don't say that. I hate when people say "blogosphere," it kind of makes me feel like blogging is some club where awkward men who still live with their mothers watch Battlestar Galactica and drink juice boxes (not that there's anything wrong with that...).

Coconut-Lime Cupcakes

+1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

+1 teaspoon baking powder

+1/2 teaspoon salt

+1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened

+1 cup sugar

+2 large eggs

+Coconut milk (about 1/2 a can, more on this later)

+2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lime juice

+1 teaspoon vanilla extract

+zest of 1 lime

1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cupcake pans with cupcake papers.

2. Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt into a bowl. Set aside.

3. In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes.

4.Add the eggs one at a time, beating until well incorporated.

5. Add the half of the flour mixture to the butter mixture.

6. Pour the 2 tablespoons of lime juice into a 1 cup measuring cup. Then, fill the cup with coconut milk until it reaches the 3/4 cup mark.

7. Add the coconut milk mixture to the butter mixture.

8. Add the remaining flour mixture.

9.Add the vanilla and lime zest.

10.Spoon the batter into the prepared cups until about two-thirds full.

11.Bake 20-22 minutes or until the tops spring back when lightly touched.

12.Cool cupcakes in pans for 10 minutes. Remove from pans and cool completely on a wire rack.

Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting

+1 bar cream cheese

+1/2 cup (1 stick) butter

+2 cups confectioners sugar

+1-2 teaspoons coconut milk

1. In a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese and butter with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes.

2.On low speed, add 1 cup of sugar, then a teaspoon of coconut milk. Increase speed to medium, and mix completely. Add remaining cup of sugar and remaining coconut milk if necessary.

3.Increase speed to high, and mix until the frosting is fluffy and reaches a good consistency for spreading.

Toasted Coconut

+about 1 1/2 cups shredded coconut.

1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2.Spread coconut on a baking pan.

3.Toast for about 6-8 minutes until golden brown on the edges.

Assembly

1. Spread frosting on cooled cupcakes.

2.Top with toasted coconut and additional lime zest.

Project Runway Recap: Project Run-away

2008-08-07T14:45:00.001-04:00

This week, Project Runway Season 5 continues with a challenge of patriotic proportions, a mild case of tanorexia, and a skort that earns praise from the judges (A sign of the apocalypse? maybe). Spoilers ahead!

The best and worst (according to the judges).

After 4 episodes,the red lipstick, tans, and leatha vests are coming off as the designers are dropping like flies. For this week's challenge, the designers are shuttled off into vans with Tim Gunn to a "mystery" location. While Kelli crosses her fingers in hopes that the challenge doesn't have to do with hospitals (yeah, we don't know where she got that idea, either), Blayne reveals his tanning habits (every other day, if you must know), his self-proclaimed hobby, to Tim Gunn. Blayne is really growing on me, especially since he has seemed to drop the "-licious" act, but I'd just really wish he'd do me a favor and slather on some SPF 50.

The designers arrive at their "mystery" location, an indoor track (yawn). Suddenly, an unidentified man appears to be skating at lighting fast speeds along the track (In Stella's deep words,"There was this speed racer, racing all around the ring"). Who could it be? My, oh, my, it's Olympian Apollo Ohno! If these kids want to know anything about winning a competition, they better listen to this guy, he's a Gold medalist and Dancing With The Stars champion (no, they did not mention that on the show. I just happen to, er, watch Dancing With The Stars...), after all. Oh-no (sorry, I just had to), do we sense an athletic inspired challenge ahead? Yep,Tim explains to the designers that their challenge is to create an ensemble for the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics. I'm slightly saddened by this. If you remember,dear reader, I'm not quite fond of sports, but that's alright because none of these designers seem to be athletic, either.

No worries, though. Joe is super excited for a challenge that can relate to his roots (a.k.a. driving his children to soccer practice). Blayne exclaims "Heck, yeah, I'm going for the gold!" Super-hipster Leanne reveals her cheerleading past. Jennifer plans on making an outfit inspired by track and field competitions of the 20s. And Stella, um, decides to go "gladiator!"

So, tell me Joe, how long did it take to grow that goatee?

After an inspiring tour around an Olympic history exhibit, the designers head to Mood. Tensions rise when the oh-so-annoying Keith steals Terri's fabric and then tries to downplay the situation with a poor attempt at innocence. In Terri's words,"A sista got to keep one eye open, that’s all I’m saying.” Ooh, we can just feel the drama stirring up in that pot we like to call designer stew.

Back at Parsons, drama arises again when Kenley and Daniel decide to have some fun. The other designers cannot stand the constant...giggling? The nerve of those two. How dare they laugh, haven't they heard you are only allowed to moan, complain, and trash-talk in the workroom? It gets worse when Daniel apparently "steals" Joe's lucky machine. God forbid someone interrupt the crafting of your skort, Joe.

Kenley + Daniel

= BFF.

On a lighter note, we get to experience more of the sheer entertainment that is Tim Gunn and Blayne conversing. Blayne just does not understand Tim Gunn's Sergeant Pepper reference to his outfit, resulting in Tim exclaiming "Oh, God, youth!" Don't worry, Tim, I fully understood your reference. Blayne's brain has just be fried by the sun.

On to the the runway! Ohno is the guest judge for this week, and we really don't care that he's an Olympic athlete, just as long as he's not Sandra Bernhardt. The runway show appears to be less than that and more of a fourth of July parade. Daniel, Kenley, and Suede all provide lovely cocktail worthy ensembles that are really not opening ceremony material. Leanne's jacket and shorts combo is brilliant and completely overlooked by the judges. Stella presents a rather unflattering, belly baring look that she claims was inspired by "all of the bikers that watch the Olympics."

In the end, Terri's chic jacket, top, and pant combo, Joe's skort (ick), and Korto's vest and pants ensemble are on top. Daniel, who's ensemble Michael Kors thinks looks more like it represents "The Republic of Cocktail Land" rather than America , Jerrell, with a horrific fiasco that looks like he walked into the Fourth of July decor clearance at his local Walmart, bought everything they had, and created an outfit, and Jennifer's cute, but boring, un-olympic look are on the bottom.

Model: Yawn. So, what's this challenge? Meeting my boyfriend's parents for the first time?

In the end, Korto wins with her look that is the perfect mix of sporty and chic. It comes down to Daniel and Jennifer (although, I think Jerrell's was positively atrocious). In the end, Jennifer is auf'd. I really did like her Holly Golightly-Dali approach and wish I could see more, but it seemed she continuously delivered boring instead of the surreal she promised.

I don't know about you, dear reader, but I'm getting dangerously bored with these gimmicky challenges. Next week: Brooke Shields! Somebody get Kenley a muzzle! We can't wait!

What were your thoughts on this week's episode?

Pitcher This

2008-08-04T21:30:00.001-04:00

Remember how we discussed reusable water bottles last week? Well, I just found this lovely specimen from fredflare.com for $14.

Now I can't choose which one; the bottle that makes a statement, or the one that looks pretty. What do you think, dear reader?

Can an ice cream cone solve the global climate crisis?

2008-08-04T20:20:00.002-04:00

The answer to that question is no (well, probably not), but that doesn't mean an ice cream cone can't help. You're probably really,really confused, dear reader, and I don't blame you. So, let me explain myself.

This past weekend, as I was taking in the fresh ocean air of the beach, I decided to get some ice cream. Nothing wrong with that, right? So I ordered my favorite peanut butter soft serve in a cup. I thought nothing of this and feasted away. The very (very) sad time came when I had finished my cup of deliciousness.

Absentmindedly, I walked to the trashcan and disposed of the paper cup and plastic spoon. This is a when a thought crossed my mind: "If I had ordered that in an ice cream cone, there would have virtually been nothing to throw away, only to end up in a landfill."

So, my green tip for this week is, order your ice cream in a cone. This is most likely the easiest (and tastiest) way to be a little more eco-friendly. And if you find yourself worrying about calories from a cone, just remind yourself you're doing you're part to reduce waste. Now, as for the calories from the whipped cream, chocolate syrup, and sprinkles? That excuse is up to you.

The Quirky & Co. Book Club

2008-08-01T23:39:00.001-04:00

I have never been a part of a book club. From my excessive (and, boy, do I mean excessive) television viewing habit, I have come to assume that most book club meetings consist of (usually) a bunch of women sitting around who only came for the snacks and didn't actually read the book.

Dear reader, I know that you are much more intelligent than these said women, even though you probably really enjoy snacks.So, I propose that the super brainy readers of this blog (which means all of you, of course) come together for a book club. Except, I think it really needs a better name than book club. How about "The Let's Read Really Good Books and Be Soooo Much Smarter Than Everyone Else Club(or not...)? Any suggestions?

Here are some books I'm interested in reading:

Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim
by David Sedaris.

I Was Told There'd be Cake

by Sloane Crosley

The Perks of Being a Wallflower
by Stephen Chbosky

If you are interested in joining or have a book suggestion, please leave a comment!

P.S. Unfortunately, our book club will not have snacks -sigh-. There are just some things the Internet will never be able to do...

Project Runway Recap:Holla at Cha Boy...?

2008-07-31T20:09:00.000-04:00

This week, Project Runway Season 5 progresses with lame catch phrase attempts, flashy rain gear, and, er, Sandra Bernhardt? Warning: Spoilers ahead!The best and worst (according to the judges)

After seeing last weeks previews for this episode, which involved heaps of trash-talk and Tim Gunn leading an army of designers in rain gear through New York City, I hoped for some elaborate team challenge where the designers must create a couture gown made entirely of plastic poncho material in the middle of Times Square (or, um, something like that...). I was slightly disappointed to find the challenge to not be so extreme, but no worries, it was still very fun.

The episode started out with the easiest, most undramatic model selection by Suede, the annoying blue fauxhawk (please excuse my use of the term, fauxhawk) sporting, third person speaking guy. The designers then head back to their swanky Atlas apartments (seriously, do they really need to show a shot of the building logo every time) and wait for Tim Gunn who, apparently, is taking them for a night on the town.

If there's anything I've learned from watching countless hours of reality television competition shows, "a night on the town" never actually translates to an actual night on the town. Tim arrives and announces that they will be taking a double-decker-tour-bus ride, despite the rainy weather. He then distributes a plethora of plastic ponchos and bright wellies (!) for all, while, I might add, looking quite smug (or according to Blayne, 'licious. -shudder-)in a black trench.

Most of our contestants are riding around, positively giddy, while some are not. Korto worries of the fate of her hair in the slightly torrential downpour (don't worry, I can relate) and Blayne wishes he was all dolled up for a real night on the town.

The contests are then told that their challenge is to take pictures of New York City nightlife (gasp! how different! what a surprise!) and create an outfit inspired by a photo of their choice. We then undergo yawn-worthy footage of the designers taking photos in the locations they're dropped off at in groups. Meanwhile, Blayne tries to make another slightly successful attempt at being this season's token character by looking for a tanning salon in the middle of Times Square,while Suede fails when he refers to himself in the third person. Among other things, Stella doesn't understand how a camera works; we're not surprised.

Back at Parsons, we're slightly frightened (and entertained) when Blayne scrunches up his face and exclaims to Kenley, the super cute girl with the lovely red lipstick and swoon-worthy hairpieces, that he is going to eat her, but I think he looks more suited to be food with his utter resemblance to a carrot. Kenley reacts by trash talking about...Emily (the obvious reaction, of course), the hipster girl with and "edgy" haircut and plethora of hippie headbands. Perhaps there's too many hair accessories in the room for Kenley to handle? I think he looks more suited to be food with his resemblance to a carrot. Meanwhile, Stella, obsessed with leather, hammers away.

Tim makes his usual rounds to check up on the designers, where he attempts to relate to the younger, slightly "urban" contestants. “Holler at your boy? Holler? Holler? I don’t get it.” Blayne then clarifies that it's "Holla at cha boy, dawg!" -shudder-.

During the commercial break, viewers can answer the question we're all dying to know the answer to: Should "Holla at cha boy" be Tim's new catchphrase?. In case you really were dying to know, 87% said no. So, I guess that means about 3 of the entire 20 viewers with horrible judgement to begin with (they did pay 99 cents per text message, after all) thought that "Make it work" was getting a bit stale.

I envy her

cuteness.

After the high of having a real celebrity judge, Natalie Portman, during last week's runway show, we were sorely disappointed that the producers turned to the E-list (yep, worse than the D-list) and appointed supposed comedian Sandra Bernhardt. Apparently, being a part of the New York nightlife comedy circuit a couple of times qualifies her as a fashion judge? Does this woman even own anything other than a pantsuit? Does she have a chronic disease and the Make-a-Wish foundation now caters to adults,thus deciding to provide her with her dream of being a Project Runway judge? One can only wonder...

WHY?Why?

(oh, and whats with your hair?)

The runway show was a bit disappointing. Blayne and Keith both present us with dresses reminiscent of something constructed in home ec. Jerrell presents a green tiered gown that really isn't suited for a night on the town and looks reminiscent of medieval princess costumes of Halloweens past.

Kenley, with her cute, 80s inspired turtleneck dress, Terri's flowy frock and pants ensemble, and Leannes sculptural black skirt and top are on top, while Emily, Keith, and Jennifer are on the bottom.

It comes down to Emily and Jennifer. I secretly like Jennifer's clock inspired dress, even if the judges disagree (it's kind of reminds me of Erin Fetherston...for Target, at least), and am glad that Emily is the one auf'd.

You're superhero headwear

will not save you now, Emily.

Well, until next time, folks, holla at cha boy! I'm sorry, I promise never to say that again...

Refill, not landfill, please.

2008-07-28T17:14:00.000-04:00

I sure hope that you, dear reader, are enjoying the eco-conscious bar soap we discussed last week in my series of green living tips that are easy and, by no means, trendy. So, for this week I challenge us to...

Just Say No to Bottled Water

Yes, I know, this is an obvious tip. If bottled water were a color, it would be red,the exact opposite of green (ba-duh-bum! sorry...). Now, you probably know all about sins of bottled water (Quirky & Co. readers are particularly intelligent), but I'll remind you of them, anyway.

First of all, the plastic bottle it comes in alone does not deteriorate for thousands of years and requires resources to be manufactured. Then, the water inside is transported (using fossil fuels, I might add) and bottled. Those bottles then must be distributed by automobile or any other type of fuel-powered transportation.

I really don't mean to bore you, dear reader, with the process of bottled water manufacturing, but if you'd like to know more, this article is actually quite interesting and does a far better job explaining than I ever could. This is really quite a fuss over something that most of us have access to just by walking into our kitchens and turning on a faucet.

So, my green challenge for us this week to drink absolutely, positively, no bottled water. If we can manage to live without it for one week, why not all of the time? Now, don't worry, dear reader, I used to be a water bottle junkie, myself. So, to make our tap water fete a lot more interesting, here are some lovely gems of reusable water bottles to fill with that ambrosial liquid known as tap water.

I've always had a fondness towards unnecessary objects plastered with Hello Kitty's adorable face. I used to save my allowance as a child (OK, so I still am a child...) for a visit to the Hello Kitty store. This bottle, by Sigg, available at amazon.com , is a slightly more mature way to get my Hello Kitty fix (slightly), but for $44.95, I just may have to keep saving that allowance -sigh-. It's cheaper than buying bottled water for the rest of my life, right?

This bottle, by Nalgene, is much easier on my wallet, with the low price of $10. It's message, "Refill, not landfill," is just so clever that I may have steal, uh, I mean borrow it for the title of this post...

News Bits and Baubles

2008-07-25T23:36:00.000-04:00

As you embark on your weekend, dear reader, here are some fascinating, lovely, interesting, and slightly thought provoking (please excuse my excessive adjective use) snippets to keep your ingenious brain from turning to mush as you absorb endless television marathons and devour boxes of popsicles (what? Am I the only one that spends their weekend that way?).

When in doubt, eat the whole thing.

+I am absolutely delighted to see that tween (please excuse my use of the word tween) bloggers are getting attention. This bit talks about 12-year-old fashion blogger Tavi (we linked her blog, Style Rookie, look at the blogroll to your right), who is soon appearing in The New York Times style magazine, T. After visiting her blog, I think I can concur that this lovely little girl (little girl? who am I to talk? I'm a mere 2 and 3/4 years older) has much cooler style than most grown women.

+Remember my banter on how eco-friendly living is becoming a fad? Well, apparently, that's not just an opinion, but a fact.

+ While the rest of us may be relaxing and taking in the heat of summer, it's holiday season for brands. Check out how Sephora plans to lure us into buying overpriced cosmetics for our loved ones, come December. I secretly wish someone would gift me that giant lipstick.

+California bans all trans-fats in restaurants. According to this article, they've already been banned in my neck of the woods, too. I didn't even notice (I guess, that's a good sign?). Good news, Californians, you can feed your donut habit without all the guilt of trans fat. Go ahead, grab another chocolate glazed with sprinkles!

That brown eco-silk might as well have been burlap...

2008-07-24T19:55:00.000-04:00

Season 5 of Project Runway proceeds with an earth friendly challenge and a celebrity guest judge who is actually a real celebrity. I've provided, you, dear reader, with my thoughts, minute by minute. Warning: Spoilers ahead!

The Best (according to the judges)

The Worst (according to the judges)

8:59 Resisting the urge to read episode info...

9:01 Suede talking about Suede is going to get old very quickly.

9:04 This model drafting is all too reminiscent of gym class.

9:05 Making a cocktail dress for the model? Snooze (unless it's anything like the model wedding dress fiasco of season 1).

9:06 Green fabrics? Good. This challenge? Still, yawn.

9:07 The models pick the fabric, now I'm awake. If there's one thing we've learned after religiously watching Project Runway for several seasons, it's that a lovely face and good style do not go hand-in-hand.

9:17 Blayne, like I have mentioned before, the whole -licious thing will not take off. I'm not the only one that thinks so.

9:18 Kelli to Stella "Hey, Drapey Draperson!" Now, there's a catchphrase.

9:20 I'm drooling over the dress Emily is wearing. In fact, I'm being more entertained by the designer's outfits than what they're sewing. Just look at Kenley's entire persona or Leanne's geeky-chic glasses.

9:21 Tim Gunn just said "hot mess." A sign of the apocalypse, perhaps?

9:24 A young celebrity?!? -oohs and ahs-

9:29 If Stella needed leather so badly, maybe she could just use some of Blayne's overly tan skin?

9:36 A Rachel Zoe reality show? I think I'm going to "die" Remind me not to tune in (although, I inevitably will).

9:39 Notice that Nina is now just "editor-at-large."

9:39 The young celebrity guest judge is...Natalie Portman! I wish I could stand behind a shadow screen and do jazz hands and look as cute as her.

9:40 Keith, your dress reminds me of fine draperies. A bubble hem? Seriously? I though we had moved on.

9:42 These designers aren't doing much to promote eco-fabric.

9:46 Wait, Stella's is one of the best? It looks like something a semi-rocker girl would wear to her wedding...in 1998.

9:47 Leanne's is one of the worst? I find it interesting and adorable. Those darn judges...

9:56 I can't get over how much Suede's dress reminds me of my tot ballet class costume.

9:57 It's OK, Kenley, yours is still lovely.

9:58 Leanne! Leanne! Leanne!

9:59 I'm sorry, Wesley, your look is clean and classy, that dress, however, is not.

10:00 Next week: ponchos, trash talk, and a Tim Gunn freakout. I can't wait!

Those were my thoughts on this week's episode, what about yours, dear reader?

Roll Out The Red Carpet...

2008-07-22T22:38:00.000-04:00

I am very very very excited to announce I have been awared the Brilliant Weblog Premio by Keri of I,Suburbanite. I beg you to visit her lovely blog.

The Rules of The Award Are...
1) When received, you may post the premio on your blog.
2) Link to the blogger you received from.
3) Give it to 4 blogs
4) And link to those blogs
5) Also, leave those four bloggers a comment about receiving the brilliant premio.

I have decided to award these fellow bloggers...
1. Sasha of The Copycatters.
2.Shirley of Shirley's Place.
3.Mary of Hail Mary.
4.Jenn of Go Couture Yourself.

Lime Raspberry Mousse Cupcakes with Basil Cream Filling (minus the basil cream)

2008-07-22T19:42:00.001-04:00

Last week, I embarked on quite an adventure making these little cups of deliciousness (I got the recipe from the extremely lovely and inspiring cupcake bakeshop by Chockylit). First, there was the hunt for raspberries in my local Whole Foods (apparently, if you don't get there by 2 in the afternoon, the raspberry monster comes and buys them all), which resulted in me turning to the frozen version. Then, there seemed to be no basil in sight (I really wish someone told me from the start that basil isn't store with all the other herbs. Instead, it has it's own little basket near the ...apples).

I then managed to fail at making simple syrup, not once, but twice. Actually, I don't think I ever succeeded because when I added the the syrup to the whipped cream, it turned out looking more like egg salad -sigh-. It tasted horrible, and, thus, ended up in the garbage disposal. The raspberry mousse tasted alright, but didn't look anything like the loveliness perched atop the original cupcakes -another sigh-.

After reading the cupcakes needed another flavor component, I did, however, manage to create a magnificent recipe for lime cake. I simply added 2 tablespoons of lime juice and some zest and took away 2 tablespoons of milk. I will most definitely make the cake part again.

Overall, I'm absolutely sure I did something wrong with the mousses. But, hey, nothing ventured, nothing gained, right? Right?

Dear Lindsay Lohan,

2008-07-22T14:09:00.000-04:00

Why? Why must you create garments that contribute to the downfall of society? We thought the leggings trend was this close to leaving the building, but, alas, you are trying to revive it. Sadly, it seems to be working, as your line has sold out. Come on, do you really have to call your line 6126, after Marilyn Monroe's birthday? We think it's highly inappropriate that you seem to be comparing yourself to a very troubled star, who, in case you forgot, took her own life (plus, Sienna Miller already played the birthday-as-name-of-fashion-line card with Twenty8Twelve).

Calling what looks like leopard legwarmers "ankle gloves?" Last time I checked, my ankles aren't really prone to coldness, especially in the middle of July. If we really wanted a pair of skintight, lame, high waisted leggings, we could just hope on over to American Apparel, where they don't cost $99. I don't even want to consider why anyone would even need leggings with built in kneepads. The zipper pair isn't terrible, but I refuse to pay $123 just so I can have air vents on the side of my leggings.

Please, reserve leggings for yoga class, not the night club. And, one more thing; why do you even need to collect the profits from this line? You are probably one of the highest paid young people in the world (How and why? I just don't know). Why not actually do something meaningful, like giving the profits to a charity (Which charity? I do not know. Maybe something along the lines of "Fashion Victims Anonymous").

Signed,
Gabby (and the rest of humanity)

P.S. The leggings only come in sizes 0,1,2,3. Is that your interpretation of xs,s,m,l or are these just reserved for skinny folks?

A Spectacle of Sorts

2008-07-21T21:09:00.000-04:00

The other day, I decided to visit Jonathan Adler's online shop. You may ask, dear reader, what is a teenage gal like me doing visiting the site of an interior design maven? Well, it could be that HGTV has been blasting on my television lately, due to my mom's interior design obsession, and that it has now trickled down to me.

Jonathan Adler creates rooms and furniture in the style which he calls "happy chic." Happy and chic, it is indeed, but, since I'm only a child, I really have no need for fine home furnishings (and even if I did, I would probably visit my very affordable friends at Ikea. Their food court alone is a reason to visit.). After looking over the said fine furnishings that I don't need, I stumbled upon the "curiosities page," where I found this lovely specimen, below.

This groovy needlepoint eyeglass case is the perfect thing to hold my spectacles. I've been searching for a cute case for so long (the clunky brown leather one that came with my glasses is a real bore) and this seems just right. There's also other novelty needlepoint goodies like coin purses and pencil cases, all of which can be found here. Of course, as everything that I seem to want these days is, it's a bit costly for me at $38. Yet another item to add to my list, entitled "Get Money/Beg Parents."

Lean, mean, green living machine.

2008-07-20T16:39:00.001-04:00

In case you haven't heard, green is the new black and, honestly, I'm kind of tired all this eco hullabaloo. It's not that i don't support being eco-friendly, dear reader, not at all. I'm just so very tired of people wearing shirts plastered with recycle symbols while throwing their soda cans into regular wastebins or girls sporting those Anya Hindmarch "I'm not a plastic bag" bags while drinking from a plastic bottle and using the tote as a handbag, rather than actually holding purchases in it.

I'm tired of the trendiness of it all, because making eco-friendly choices shouldn't just be a trend, it should be a lifestyle that everyone strives for. So, follow me, dear reader, as I attempt to make my life a bit greener and a little better with weekly easy, small tips that will hopefully make the world a better place.Fingers crossed.

Rub a dub dub, don't put liquid soap in your tub.

Liquid soap is probably something you don't think about very often, but think of this: the normal bottle of liquid soap is not recyclable. Apparently, the dispenser in the bottle prevents it from being recycled and ultimately ending up in a landfill. Plus, most run-of-the-mill liquid soaps contain a bunch of preservatives and chemicals you wouldn't want to rub all over your precious hands. Bar soaps are probably one of the most eco-friendly products out there, and you wouldn't even know it. They often contain little to no packaging and gentle ingredients. Best of all, they're super cheap,too!

I decided to pick up a simple lavender scented hand soap bar from my local Whole Foods, which cost a whopping $1.29 and had very minimal packaging. I also grabbed an organic and fair trade made bar with natural exfoliants built in, which cost $1.49 and the only packaging on it was a bar code sticker!

Project Runway Recap...better late than never.

2008-07-20T00:49:00.000-04:00

Project Runway is, in my opinion, one of the very few reality shows that you can walk away from without feeling like your IQ has dropped a couple of points. So, as you can imagine, dear reader, I was super excited for season five to begin last Wednesday. I excitedly woke up that morning and kept checking the clock throughout the day to make sure I wouldn't miss the premiere. Finally, 9:59 came around and I sprinted to my television, only to discover an episode of ...Shear Genius, a haircutting competition show that could never even compare to the loveliness that is Project Runway.

Utterly confused and disappointed, I checked my TV guide; it turns out that Project Runway was on at nine, not the usual ten it had been for the past 4 seasons. After seeing countless promos, how did I not register into my head that it was coming on at nine? Do not fret, dear reader, I soon discovered it would be replayed at eleven. Anyways...here are my thoughts on the new season (spoiler alert!).

As you may know, dear reader, there has been quite a bit of drama over everyone's favorite fashion design competition in the last few months, including the extremely public firing of Nina Garcia from Elle and the show's move to Lifetime (yuck!) from Bravo for season six. No worries, though, the show's producers have seemed to make it work (bah-dum-bing! Sorry, was that a bad pun?).

Instead of featuring a mix of experienced designers and amateurs ,it seems this season mostly contains semi-established designers with excellent skill. The cast seems pretty diverse, with the exception of about three women who I still can't separately identify. They all had that indie-hipster look blunt haircuts. There's Jennifer, who's design theory can be described as "Holly Golightly goes to a Salvador Dali exhibit" and her favorite designers are Schiaparelli, Moschino, and Cynthia Rowley. I can't wait to see more of her work, since her aesthetic has to be my all time favorite of any Runway designer.

Then there's Blayne, a self-proclaimed "tanorexic" who seems to be attempting to market the term "girlicious" like Christian Siriano did with "fierce" in season 4. I suppose he hasn't heard of a little group call The Pussycat Dolls? If you thought that was bad, there's the super whiny Stella, a middle aged rocker with a knack for all things pleather. I think we can deem these two the annoying characters of the season (oh, and that guy Suede, who prefers to refer to himself in the third person).

The season-opener challenge (presented by hilariously flamboyant season one contestant Austin Scarlett. Boy, do I love when they bring old contestants back)was to create a look using products purchased from a grocery store, just like the first challenge in season one. I have to admit, I become positively giddy inside whenever Tim Gunn presents a challenge using unconventional materials, especially food (remember the Hershey's challenge of season 4? -swoons-).

It was a bit disappointing to see the myriad of tablecloths purchased (During the commercial break, I envisioned creating a cocktail dress of cupcake liners embellished with bits and baubles, courtesy of the candy aisle), but there were some absolutely brilliant creations, like the sweetheart dress created completely out of those unambiguous plastic party by Daniel, the dyed vaccum bag skirt by Kelli, the fresh produce embossed dress by Korto and the tiered party dress composed of paper towels by Jennifer.

Some of my favorites

In my opinion, the judge's final decision was inaccurate (I threw my remote on the ground and started verbally abusing the judges). Blayne's horrific attempt at being edgy that turned out to look more like an ensemble for an extremely dark and twisted baby, complete with a high waisted diaper and bib shoulder pads and Stella's dress that started out looking like a trashbag and ended up just looking plain trashy seemed to pass just enough under the rador, resulting in neither of them being eliminated (I'm convinced ,Michael Kors was sympathetic towards Blayne. They both share a passion for day-glo colored skin, after all). Jerry was sent home for his raincoat ensemble, which was awful, but definitely much better than anything Stella or Blayne could stitch up in a lifetime. Well, no matter what the judges may say, I'm super excited to see more from this season's designers.

Some of the worst.

Well, dear reader, I'm very sorry for the long winded post, but I hope you enjoyed it. Be on the lookout for next week's live Runway post, just as long as I tune in at the right time.

p.s. What are some of your thoughts on the new season?

Carryall is not a literal term, ahem.

2008-07-19T23:38:00.000-04:00

Rotten milk. Previously chewed gum. Unidentifiable substance that you think is peanut butter. What do all of these things have in common? Yes, they all happen to be things you could find in a dumpster, but that's not what I'm talking about. All of these things mysteriously work their way to the surface of my schoolbag by the end of the year. Dear reader, much to your surprise, the floors of the average high school are by no means clean, especially the floors of the cafeteria.

There are always inevitable moments where I must place my schoolbag on said dirty floors. It is during these moments that I believe my schoolbag becomes an unintentional paper towel for the filth created by the oh-so-lovely students. I find it rather unfair that my poor schoolbag is trashed, while I seem to be the only one to pick up after myself -sigh-. But don't worry, dear reader, my days of religiously scrubbing Tide-to-go pens across my poor schoolbag in a bathroom stall could soon be over.

This swoon-worthy carryall bag by Orla Kiely has a comfy handle, roomy pockets for my pencils, a versatile color palette, and space for my textbooks. Best of all, the fabric is laminated. So, if this lovely bag is attacked by the lunch room floor monster, I just need to wipe it clean. Granted, it is $185, and, like I've said many times before, I just don't have that kind of moolah to be throwing around, but, maybe with a little begging and pleading (and, um, hair pulling, door throwing,and a bit of screaming) I'll be able to convince my dear parents that this bag will, essentially, give me a happier, more peaceful, and cleaner schoolyear. Fingers crossed.

Here Comes The Sun...

2008-07-15T20:36:00.000-04:00

Ah, the sun. It makes plants grow, brings light, and supplies us all with a source of vitamin D. Oh, yeah, did I mention it can kill you? It seems everywhere I look, lately, there's a bunch of hullabaloo about sun protection. Tanning? Don't even think about it. SPF this, UVB-UVA that, skin cancer, premature aging...all of this talk is enough to make a gal curl up in her basement and never come out again. Take it from me, dear reader, I know a little something about what happens when one forgoes sunscreen, I generally burn up like a marshmallow on the flame of a campfire without it. Now, as much as I love s'mores, this is a very unattractive look. Now that we're into the thick of summer, I think it's appropriate to share some of my favorite products (and products I want to try!) for combating that big ol' ball of fire in the sky.

This transparent, matte powder SPF by Peter Thomas Roth is a super easy way to protect yourself. The brush applicator is very convenient, too. Plus, since it's a powder it won't clog your pores like many other suncreens. I'd love to try this, but for $30 it's a bit costly for me (I'm a teenage girl with a monthly income of $6.57). Maybe I'll add it to my back-to-school shopping list, after all, sun protection is important all year round. Available at your local Sephora.

Lately, I've been using this Coppertone Sport Faces Suncreen with an SPF of 50. Now, I am by no means athletic. In fact, I'm one those kids who kick the soccerball into their own team's goal (hey, at least I kicked the ball into a goal) and use every excuse possible to get myself out of gym class ("My pet goldfish died, yesterday. Due to the emotional trauma, I cannot participate"), but this sunscreen simply protects you from the sun even if you sweat or get wet. Since it's oil-free, it won't clog your pores. I recommend using it instead of your usual moisturizer and then apply makeup.Plus, with the price tag of $6.99, it's easy on the wallet. Available at your local drugstore.

Stila illuminating tinted moisturizer with SPF is perfect for those times when you need to wear makeup, but don't feel like putting on SPF and foundation (it's middle of summer, the last thing you want is a melting face). This tinted moisturizer not only protects your skin,

but gives it nice coverage and a healthy, natural glow (no orange faces here). I originally tried this when I purchased a full-size Stila kit from ULTA, which included this, an eyeliner/eyeshadow duo, eyeshadow, blush, lip gloss, and mascara all for the spectacular value of $40. I believe the kit is still available, so if you are blessed to live near an ULTA, it's the perfect chance to t

ry this (and many other products). If not, it's

available at Sephora for $32 (see what I mean when I say spectacular value?).

Now that you know my sun protection picks, what are some of yours, dear reader?

P.S. Does anyone know of a good SPF lip balm?

This tea is sublime, mate!

2008-07-14T00:51:00.000-04:00

I'd like to dedicate this post to my favorite beverage, Honest Tea Sublime Mate. I mean, I'd really hate to have one of those blogs that just contains free pulls for stuff I like, but, dear reader, this stuff is truly sublime. Honestly, I reached for this at my local Whole Foods after seeing a line of Kiehl's face products containing Yerba Mate, a blend of tea. I thought "Hey, maybe if I drink this I'll have gorgeous skin!" A girl can dream big ,after all. I don't know if it did anything for my skin, but it sure made my taste buds feel good. The Honest Tea site sums up this ambrosial liquid best.

"A delicious energizing blend of South American yerba mate (pronounced mah'tay) and organic limeade with a hint of ginger. "

Even better, Sublime Mate is certified organic by the USDA, and, I don't know about you, dear reader, but I choose organic whenever possible.

P.S. Now that Yerba Mate has made my insides feel lovely, I think I'll make a stop at my local Kiehl's counter and try out the skincare line. Who knows, maybe it'll make my face feel lovely.

PB& J with no crusts, please. Actually, No bread, for that matter.

2008-07-11T16:42:00.000-04:00

Last night I was struck with an immense craving for peanut butter and jelly, but, being the kind of gal I am, I could not simply enter my kitchen and make a sandwich. No, I had to make peanut butter and jelly cupcakes. With the help of my dear old friend, Google, I was able to find this extremely easy and delicious recipe. The cake was super moist, yet light, and the frosting was probably the best frosting I've made in my life. The setback was that I had no squeeze bottle for the jelly, but no worries, dear reader, I just cut a little piece off the top of each cupcake, spooned in some jelly, and put the piece back on. I then simply iced them with the scrumptious frosting to cover up my dirty work, and voila, some of the most delicious cupcakes I have ever tasted.

P.S. Does anyone know how I can get rid of the date in the corner of my pictures? It's driving me bananas.

Pajama Party

2008-07-09T22:55:00.000-04:00

During a trip to the mall yesterday, I stumbled into Gap. I've been a huge fan of Gap, ever since I wore Baby Gap onesies when I was a,um, baby. Right now, they're having a terrific sale where anything that is marked down has an extra 25% off. I walked away with a simple, kind of slouchy white tee with tie at the waist, an oversized grey 3/4 sleeve tee, and this lovely dress, below. The odd thing about it is that the tag says Gapbody and it was placed in the Gapbody section of the store, you know where they sell loungewear and undergarments. So, I guess this great dress that I fell in love with is not a dress, but a... nightgown? That basically sums up the story of my life. Whatever the tag may say, I'll continue wearing this "nightgown" as a daytime dress. For your viewing pleasure, dear reader, here are some outfits I've composed with my dress/nightgown (I got tired of dressing my mannequin______, so I held back my camera shyness and modeled). Top: Guess (girls)

Belt: Abercrombie (salvaged from my horrific "aberzombie" stage a few years ago. Shudder.)

Tights: Target

The Darjeeling Limited

2008-07-09T15:51:00.000-04:00

I had wished to see this film for the longest amount of time and, on a recent trip to the DVD rental vending machine(isn't that amazing? a DVD vending machine!) in my local grocery store, my wish came true. I had gone in search of Definitely, Maybe (my sister's request, not mine), which looks cute and all, but definitely not a piece of groundbreaking film (but hey, I haven't actually seen it. If you have, Dear Reader, I would love to hear about it). It turned out Definitely, Maybe was out of stock and so, I got to choose The Darjeeling Limited, which after viewing twice, I have decided is a very lovely piece of groundbreaking film. The movie follows three American brothers, Francis, the control freak of the family who's face was just mamed in a car accident, Peter, who is extremely nervous due to the upcoming birth of his son, and Jack, who is always stuck in the middle of his brother's arguments and can't let go of his inconsiderate girlfriend, who decide to come together for a train voyage across India, after not seeing one another since their father's death one year earlier, in hopes of bonding with one another, finding themselves, and ultimately, become the brothers they used to be.

The brother's "spriitual journey" goes haywire due to events involving objects such as deadly snakes, pepper spray purchased on the street, and Indian painkillers, but they soon discover an entire unplanned journey where they least expect it. The beautiful imagery of the film, not to mention the meaningful and often times funny dialogue (or the amazing soundtrack I can't stop listening to), is a reason alone to watch the movie. I give this film 5 out of 5 cupcakes.

P.S. The suitcases in this film, which play a huge role, symbolically, were made by Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton.
P.S.S. I am now stuck with a huge craving for Indian food.Perhaps these Indian cupcakes?

Thats her? Really?

2008-07-09T15:18:00.001-04:00

Hmm, is it just me or does this young Hollywood beauty, look, well, a little less than that on this upcoming cover of Seventeen? Let's compare this cover to some other, shall we say, classier titles.

Yep, I'm convinced some super jealous tech-inclined intern over at Seventeen had something to do with this.