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Fashion/Design

When Alternative Apparel Has a Sale, I’m Happy

One of my all-time favorite clothing brands is Alternative Apparel. Not only is the clothing line stylish and comfy, but socially conscious too (no forced labor, fair compensation, safe working conditions and they follow all environmental laws).

Some of my favorite articles of clothing have come from there. This is their Slummy Tee Dress:

Right now Alternative Apparel is having an additional 30% off their sale items (use the code: Spring). This is kind of awesome since their t-shirts alone range from $30-60, with many items being close to $100.

I bought the Annie Henley in White and Dawson Skirt in Black for $49 total including shipping (original price would have been $126).

Dawson Skirt

They have a lot of other great items on sale, but I was trying to control myself. Here are my must check out styles:

Looking Glass Maxi Dress, $98, now $41.99

Cara Dress, $78, now $24.49

Willow Sweater $58, now $20.99

Hipstercrite Life, Pop Culture

Bullying: Why Trend Causes Are Important

Vinnie says you’ve been hiding the goods on us, Paulie.

Over the past two years, bullying has been a trendy act to rally against. Causes that catch fire where people discuss like it never existed before then (Kony 2012 anyone?) are kind of cringe-worthy, but the silver lining is that people have finally become aware of/woken up to a cause and care about it. When I find myself rolling my eyes over a tweet, Facebook status or blog post addressing this trendy cause, I just remind myself that it is a good thing that people give a crap (but like most trends, will they forget about the cause next week?)

Bullying seems to be a cause who’s trend has lasted for awhile now. I think bullying was not something people talked about before because they felt it was a “rite of passage” and just a part of human nature. Teens have been killing themselves (or others) for years, but with the current strength of social media and information sharing, their deaths are becoming more widely reported and empathized.

Though (more…)

Hipstercrite Life

Wisdom Tooth

I just brewed a pot of coffee without a pot underneath it. I also couldn’t think of the word “pot”. Needless to say, I don’t trust myself with writing a post today. I’m not sure what words will come out of my mouth.

I feel like poo today and I’m pretty sure it’s because I have a wisdom tooth coming in. I have a lot of dental work that needs to be done and that fact depresses me. I’m depressed not because I’m scared of the dentist, but because with or without insurance, dental work costs a buttload. If anyone here in Austin has any recommendations on a dentist who is good, but inexpensive or offers a payment plan (that isn’t that stupid dental credit card), please let me know! I feel a health insurance rant post coming on soon.

In the meantime, I’m going to post this picture of my teenage father. This picture weirds me out in so many ways- I love it.

Film, Pop Culture

Come Back, Rick Moranis! (and Deborah Foreman, Phoebe Cates and Tim Curry)

My little nugget

Do you ever find yourself catching an old flick and wondering, “Oh man, where did that actor disappear to?” Then you scramble to Wikipedia only to find out that they died of bone cancer in 1978 and you become completely despondent for the rest of the evening (John Cazale anyone?)

Sometimes actors or actresses don’t have as sad of a fate as Cazale, but they simply stop acting or fizzle out. Sometimes we miss them. The guys and gals listed below don’t need to make a “comeback.” A comeback makes it sound like they fell out of favor with society and they’ve been thrust into the naughty corner until society says they can come out — no, they simply need to come back. Come back into our lives and make us whole again.

Here are a list of actor and actresses I liked to see put back on first billing:

Rick Moranis

I could write an entire post about The Moranis, or as I like to call him, “My Little Nugget”….

CONTINUE…

Fashion/Design

Rachel Roy SXSW Street Style

During SXSW I was invited to partake in a Rachel Roy photo shoot with other creatives in Austin. I was slightly familiar with the brand, but by the end of the shoot, I fell in love! Roy’s clothing is not only unique, colorful and beautiful, but super comfy too! I got to meet so many wonderful ladies and gentlemen from NYC, Austin and Houston and made some terrific new friends!

Below is the SXSW Street Style shoot we did. We also shot a fun summer collection pictorial that should be available through the mailing list soon at www.rachelroy.com!

In my photo, I joked about doing the classic Lookbook stance of pigeon-toeing yourself. Looks like they chose that photo! Maybe there is something to the pigeon toe stance after all!

I’m wearing the Angel Dress $129. Femme, charming and has pockets to boot! I also got to include my Great Aunt Stella’s 90 year-old locket in my outfit.

 

 

 

Fashion/Design, Hipstercrite Life

How To Plant a Garden and Become One With the Earth

I’m building a garden because 1.) I spend way too much time on the internet and want to “Get my hands in the dirt and become one with the Earth” 2.) Want to feel the pride and sweat of eating homegrown vegetables 3.) I’m bored and it’s better than drinking red wine and watching Youtube videos of tigers eating pizza boxes 4.) There was a giant hole in the yard, some cinder blocks and some bags of dirt that needed a home rather than being strewn across the yard.

I made a garden once when I was in college in Upstate New York. Much like this time around, I didn’t read a gosh damn single book, article or sentence about how to grow stuff, so I mainly ended up with rabbit-gorged lettuce, some bland corn, tomatoes (which I don’t like) and one eggplant. This time I’m growing lettuce (I think all the rabbits in Texas have gone extinct), basil, fennel (I think it’s too late in the planting season for fennel), chives (think it’s too late for that too) and I don’t remember what else.

So far everything (more…)

Writing

If The Tacocopter Was Real and Lived in Austin, Texas

Though the Tacocopter of San Francisco (“flying robots deliver tacos to your location”) has been dubbed a fake, let’s fantasize if such a thing existed in Austin, Texas, shall we?

1.) While waiting in long-ass lines during SXSW, the helicopter could plop tacos into our open mouths like baby birdies waiting for regurgitated worms.

2.) While hungover, the helicopter could rap tap on your bedroom window as you wait for death to take you. Instead of death, you’re greeted with tacos… and a robot. Which is kind of like death.

3.) While waiting in traffic on I-35 during rush hour, you can have tacos delivered to your window…and obliterate the cars in front of you.

4.) While waiting in line at Franklin’s you can snack on tacos…because after two hours of waiting, you’ll be hungry enough again to eat at Franklin’s.

5.) While hanging out at Barton Springs, you don’t have to leave your spot and worry about an old man in a thong taking it. Instead tacos and memory-erasing pills (more…)

Hipstercrite Life

When Almost Passing Out During Yoga is Exactly What You Need

Yesterday,  I wrote about how I felt like I was cracking up due to my nighttime anxieties. Trying never to give in and dwell on the negative, I decided I needed to do something about it.

So I picked the most cliché thing possible- I tried yoga for the first time!

Cliché or not, it was well worth it.

I’ve owned two yoga mats in my life and have never actually done yoga. Thanks to my friend Jordan, I finally got the push in the tush I needed to go.

We went to the donation-based Black Swan Yoga on 5th Street. The moment I walked in, I was struck at how peaceful and positive the atmosphere was. I’m not sure why this surprised me. It’s not like they play death metal and talk about cutting yourself at yoga. Everyone was so friendly and not in an over-the-top kind of way. Like a pull you in and hug you and make you feel all warm and gushy kind of way.

I sat down and was instantly struck by the fear that my feet might stink, but when I realized that yoga is not about being self-conscious, (more…)

Fashion/Design, Hipstercrite Life, Writing

How to Look Like a Flower Child

My mother came of age in one of the most interesting and pivotal times in America.

Sometimes I would lay on the floor and listen to her Simon and Garfunkel, Sly and the Family Stone and Janis Joplin records personalized with her handwritten notes.

I envied her adventures through the late 60’s and early 70’s.

I also envied her kick-ass figure. She was a string bean and had impeccable style.

She’s still one of the most beautiful and creative women I know. I wish she believed that about herself too.

Ugh. Look at those thighs.

I love the green Acapulco t-shirt and white pant suit combo! I wish I could rock the white suit and t-shirt!

Love that high-waist shorts/pants are still in!

Momma stealing a child and a horse while visiting Mexico

Hipstercrite Life

The Crack-Up

source

The past couple of nights I haven’t felt my strongest.

As I mentioned before, my boyfriend, who I’ve spent nearly every day with since we first met, has left for Portugal for three months. Since I work freelance from the house, I find myself with more alone time than I did before I met Geoff. We don’t have a TV, so there isn’t the omnipresent media voice protecting me from my own thoughts.

Actually, that’s a lie. There is a TV. It’s upstairs in the bedroom, but I refuse to sleep there. I sleep on the couch downstairs because I feel safer there. Upstairs I have no control of what is going on downstairs.

This logic makes no sense.

But back to being alone with your thoughts. It’s a dangerous pastime when you have an overactive imagination. It can be paralyzing. You can absolutely convince yourself of something because all you’re doing hyper-focusing on that thought.

Every night, every damn fucking night, I’m convinced that someone is going to break in. I hear a noise (more…)