If you haven’t tried lychee Pinkberry, please rectify your life and do so.  Immediately, if not sooner.

Ok, I need your mind ALL THE WAY UP OUT of the gutter.

We find out the Beigelet’s gender tomorrow.  I’m starting a pool.  Not sure how I can consider it a pool since there is no payout involved, but who says we can’t pretend?

SO – boy or girl?  Whatchall think?

Between the horrorshows of Japan, Libya, and New Zealand, American politicians trying to sell off democracy to the highest bidder, the assault on the working class, people like Dolly B. below, and pregnancy, I find myself running out of what precious little fucks I have to give when it comes to fashion.  I really do.

This dog reminds me of Andre Leon Talley…

Then I saw this picture and it made me abandon the whole “let’s wear Hanes t-shirts and dirty jeans to work and hope that no one notices” thing in favor of “let’s wear nicer t-shirts with clean smelling jeans to work with a jacket on top so that I at least look put-together.”  You know…because I once had a self-manufactured reputation that I should probably try to uphold…or something like that.

side note: the internet has permanently altered my perception of reality.

No one ever told me this, but the key to looking “fashionable” when you are a denim freak is to wear nice-looking outerwear and a decent pair of shoes.

Seriously.  That’s it.

Yes, my dears, I’se bakin’ a young’un.  If you’d like to watch me do what I do best (read: complain) in nearly real-time, go here.

Go visit my lovie and make sure to riddle her comment box with congrats and praises on THAT RANG.

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In other news, I’m giving you THREE guesses as to why I would post this video (besides the song being all kinds of awesome, natch):

Hint: it has nothing to do with Cody ChestnuTT looking good in leather.  Absolutely nothing.

Another hint: it has very little to do with this:

If you have a weird thought process like I do, I’m sure you’ll be able to put 1 and 1 together.

*shimmies*

=D

The Divinitus
Garbage Dress

So I kind of have this…thing…with wanting to have a perfectly organized and edited closet. Pursuing that goal has led to more than 15 reorganizations and several sexy hanger purchases since this blog’s inception.

I’m pretty sure these things have more to do with my being a “control what I can” freak, but for the purposes of this post, we’ll pretend that isn’t the case.

After the (very un)shocking realization that I only really wear four colors, a conversation with two of my favorite people, and reviewing pictures of closets that I’ve admired and blog-jacked over the years, I think I’ve finally done it.  I’ve finally made my makeshift home for clothes something I can be proud to show off….

Except I won’t be showing it off because I don’t want you folks judging my ikea setup.

I’m sensitive.

You asked…and I delivered.  They’ve been grouped into sections.

Najeema, this first picture is for you.  =D

This is one of the few pictures I have of all of the cats in one place doing what they do best: NOT A DAMN THING.  L to R in their order on the bed.

Tidbits About Yours Truly:

Where are you from originally?
Born in Inglewood and raised in L.A.  I’m one of those rare native Angelinos.

I think you’re like…28, is that right?
Almost.  I’m 26.

How’d you get so awesome?
Trials, tribulations, and a lot of practice.   =P

Is it possible that you could perhaps bottle this awesome and sell it in your etsy/e-shop along with all those lovely talons?
If it were possible I would try to, but no one would buy it.  Everyone has their own awesome.  It’s not always apparent, but it’s there.

Do you keep a diary? What else do you write?
I don’t keep a diary, but I make a lot of lists.  I am a serial list maker.  Depending on what my life is like at the time, they sort of function as a diary.  I also used to do op/ed articles for a newsletter some years ago.

How often do you take inventory of your personal possessions?
Whenever I get overwhelmed.  If I’m stressing, and my desk or closet is looking a mess, I’ll go through it and purge.  Purrrrrrrrrrrge!  I’ve never really counted up everything I have.  I’ve tried to make a list, but that ended after I got to #26.

Why don’t you wear contact lenses? (Not that you should, because I covet your glasses.  )
Thanks!!  I don’t wear contacts because I don’t have the patience and I hate things in my eyes (you should hear me at the optometrist being dilated…I scream).  I tried to put a hazel contact lens in once (it was high school – DON’T JUDGE ME) and it took an HOUR.  I’m not exaggerating, either.  It was really an hour.  Afterward, my eye was so red and puffy that I vowed to never get them.

How did you get into jewelry design?
I’ve always liked making things and working with my hands.  When my interest in jewelry making piqued, I just followed the impulse.  It’s been slowing up as of late, so I may get back into sewing or collages or birdhouses.  It’s a tossup.

Most influential moment/person in your life so far.
The most influential moment came when I was complaining about my life’s stagnation and plans I’d put off to a dear friend of mine.  His reply was, “Just shut the fuck up and do it.”  It was the best advice I ever got and I often go back to it for motivation.

Have you ever had long hair?
Not really.  I trashed my hair for years by braiding it back to back and breakage was a constant.  The longest it’s ever been is a bit past shoulder length.

What do you use in your hair?
I religiously use a cleansing conditioner and deep conditioner that smells like pumpkin pie made by Darcy’s Botanicals.  I also use Tui leave-in conditioner and Hair Elixir from Carol’s Daughter along with jojoba oil.  I’m trying to work all that in to a regimen of some sort.

Get them both here.  That Pumpin Seed conditioner seriously smells like pie.  It’s DIVINE.

Of the people you meet or have met through your blog, do you maintain close friendships with any of them?
Define close…  Ok, kidding.  I do hang out with quite a few of them and there are some that I consider to be good friends of mine.  There are a couple who are kindred spirits and I’m glad to have found them…we share a mutual love and hatred for a lot of things.  LOL.

What is a typical friday night like for you?
Listening to music on NPR at home with dudeguy and the cats.  Yep.  I am running this town from my living room.

What currently inspires you (art, fashion, etc.)?
Minimalism and practicality across the board.

On Geography:

Have you ever wanted to live anywhere else besides L.A.? If so, where? If not, why not?
I get seduced by a new city every now and again, but the weather keeps me firmly grounded here.  I love the pace, energy, public transit, and tap water of New York (really, that water is DELICIOUS – copepods and all), but I hate snow.  Lately we’ve been thinking about Portland.  It seems nice, but I’m not sure about the weather.  Does anyone have any insight?

If I got the chance to move out of the country (and could control the weather), I’d consider Paris, the Basque region of Spain, Rome or Dubai…and that’s based solely on episodes of Anthony Bourdain’s show.

On Jobs and Goals and Thangs:

Job?
Just started a brand new one at an ad agency.  Formerly, I was chasing down money and enforcing contracts for actors in the name of a union.

How did you come to work your day job?
Both my last job and my new job came about through friends of mine and some really great timing.

When you were a lil kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
In no particular order: a zoologist, veterinarian, cartoonist, pilot, lawyer, writer, a Jeopardy! contestant, dancer/choreographer, director, and really rich.   I still don’t know the answer to that question.

What are your career goals? (Essentially what job do you most want to do that’s most attainable?)
Unclear.  I’ve never really had a career goal.  My only real goal is to pay off my damn student loans so my money can be MY money.

Where/what do you want to be ideally in 5 years time?
Debt free.  I don’t care where.

On Fashion Type Stuff:

What made you start a fashion/life blog?
Boredom.  That and being tired of dressing like a 12-year-old boy.

If you had to wear one designer’s clothing for the rest of your life, who would it be and why?
Helmut Lang – both things he designed and things made under the brand’s name now.  They’re practical, suit my style, and the men’s clothes are just as appealing as the women’s.  It’s what I would be wearing now if I had an endless supply of recreational money.

Helmut Lang Resort 2010 as reported by a search for images on the Google.

What designer do you wish would just fall off the face of the earth?
There’s room for everyone…except LiLo.  LiLo should never design clothes for anyone ever again.

You can only choose one for life: scarves or panties. Which will it be?
PANTIES.  I refuse to go without underwear.  REFUSE.

What is the biggest fashion mistake a person can make?
Wearing clothes that are too small.  That is always tragic no matter what size you are.

Lookbook?
Tried it.  Stopped updating.  Too many hipsters.

What is your take on people who color/dye their pets to match their outfits??
iCan’t…pets are not accessories.

Music is My Therapy:

Please choose one musical recording that changed your life. Please explain why.
“Liberation” by Outkast featuring Erykah Badu, Cee-Lo, and Big Rube.  I can be incredibly moody and that song has helped me to center my mind in times of turmoil (and that is HUGE).

What is your favorite Rick James song? (or are they all your favorites?!?!)
“Give It To Me.”  That bassline is KILLER.  ”Seventeen” is a close second.

Do you like house music?
It isn’t played out here much, so I haven’t been able to really listen to any since I…acquired…all those DJ Assault songs back in college.  From what I’ve heard, it’s cool.

Can you please name 5 of your current favorite songs?
Barring anything that Rick James has recorded,  five of my all time favorites are “Straight to Hell” by The Clash, “Young, Fresh & New” by Kelis, “What Would You Do” by the Dogg Pound, “I’m Good” by Kanye West, and “Tore My Heart” by Oona.

As for current music, I like Drake’s “Find Your Love,” Cee-Lo’s “F**k You,” Janelle Monae’s “Cold War,” J*Davey’s “Permission” and (shamefully) Trey Songz’s “Bottoms Up.”

You know what?  Scratch all of that.  THIS is my new favorite song.

On Dudeguy:

How did you and Dudeguy meet and get crunk?
He was my bartending teacher.  I was fresh off of a broken engagement, and he was smart and had big calves (2 things I find very attractive).  After a few awkward encounters, I could tell he liked me.  We started dating right after I finished the course.  I never went into bartending.

Tell us more about dudeguy!
He’s an anarcho-punk turned bartender, cook, and philosopher.  Mostly his words, but it’s the truth.  He’s easily the most interesting and intelligent person I know and can talk at length about almost anything.

Can you get dudeguy to move east? pleeeease?
I wish.  I would consider NY, but he hates big cities.  You should hear him talk about L.A…and he’s FROM here.  High treason.

Are you and dudeguy thinking marriage and lil innydudeguy babies?
*lethargic voice* yessssssssssssssss…I’m not too keen on either, but we’ll see what happens.

What is your take on marriage and kids?
Marriage is something I don’t see as necessary for having a highly functional relationship, but I would roll with it.  I have never been particularly pressed about it though.  Kids…umm…I don’t really like kids (there is only ONE in the world that I am fond of at present).  I’m sure that would change if I had one of my own (KNOCK ON WOOD), but I don’t have the commitment level necessary for taking care of something that doesn’t have a tail.

My Favorite Things:

When you aren’t blogging, working, shopping, or having fun/hilarious adventures, what do you like to do?
I’m usually at home.  I really like being at home.

Who is your favorite artist? (any medium)
Justin Bua.  I have a print of my favorite of his pieces that once hung on my bedroom wall, but is now buried in a crawl space.  Such a shame.

Piano Man II by Justin Bua

What is your favorite country?
I have to default to the US because I’ve never been anywhere else.  I really should have done that in college…*sigh*

What is your favorite dessert?
Molten chocolate lava cake.  Cake on the outside, hot melted choco brownie batter-like goodness on the inside.

FUN STUFF:

When are you having a party for your blog?
Next time you come visit!  Raq, that goes for you, too. I’ll make it a slumber party.  ;)

If you could deliver a dirtyslap to anyone dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Sarah EFFING Palin.  She’s an idiot who has somehow managed to spread her idiocy like wildfire among people who were probably well-meaning, but have been scared into thinking that “the gay” and Muslims are destroying America.  She is the embodiment of Sinclair Lewis’s quote, “When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.”

If you had the power to change the world, what would you change first?
It’s a toss up between removing corporate influence and money from American politics, closing the wealth gap between rich and poor people everywhere, and making critical thought a requirement for living.

If you were a talk show host, what celebrity would you never invite to your show even if the said celebrity’s mum agreed to pay you a hefty sum under the table?
Evangeline Lily.  She irritated the hell out of me as Kate on LOST and I don’t think I’d be able to carry on a conversation with her without saying something disrespectful.  Even now, when I see her L’Oreal commercials, I yell, “SHUT UP, KATE” at the television.  LOSTies, you know why.

If you were super famous, what magazine would you NEVER want to be shot by and why?
King Magazine, because that would mean I’m famous for being a video vixen or for doing hoe-shit.  I’m cool.

bang murder kill is my new favorite game (tho no one else likes it); fill in the respective categories with anyone you feel most suits each category. heh heh heh.
This is AWFUL!  I plead the 5th on all counts.

Picture via this site.

It just dawned on me that this blog is 2 years old (tomorrow…I think…don’t feel like checking…and I suck at dates).

** UPDATE: Ok, I checked.  Turns out it was August 12th…yeaaaaaaaaaaah. **

Anyway, to “celebrate” I’m going to do a Question & Answer post.

Fire away.

Following is a snippet of a conversation between dudeguy and I regarding an article I read this weekend.  The idea of minimalism and paring down possessions is a fascinating and motivating topic for me and everytime I read a piece on the subject and share the info with my consort, the response is usually an eye-roll + heavy sign, a “you’re cleaning out your closet again, arent you?” or something to that effect. 

“Babe, I was reading an article online about a couple that went from living in a two-bedroom apartment with two cars to a shoebox apartment, no cars, and they managed to clear $30,000 in debt!  In three years!”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah.  This woman managed to get all of her posessions down to 100 thi…”

“She has too much stuff.”

“But she only has 100 things…clothes included…”

“TOO MUCH!  Half a sandwich and three sheets of toilet paper are all you need.”

“…”

“And if your belly is full, you don’t really need that half a sandwich.”

“But what about the next day?”

“Well, you’re gonna have to find another three sheets of toilet paper.” 

I’m still not sure how serious he was when he said this.  Given his love for Woody Guthrie and the hobo-life, I’m not really sure I want to know.