Oh, golly gee damn!

"Anyone who ever gave you confidence, you owe them a lot." - Holly, Breakfast at Tiffany's

Recognize that lady? Of course you do. That's Hollywood's own Audrey Hepburn. Recognize that dress? Of course you. That infamous little black dress. Know who made it? Of course you don't. But guess what? I'm going to tell you.

Imagine being ten years old, wandering wide-eyed at the 1937 World's Fair in Paris surrounded by a 28-foot sculpture of a buffalo, Picasso's "Guernica", a 500 ft high pavillion adorning an eagle and swastiska, and narrowly focusing on the outfits of the passersby. Paris was the place this young boy was destined to be. At the age of 17, he packed up and traveled back to the bustling fashion hub to learn the couturier business from Chanel's biggest rival, Elsa Shiaparelli. As modernist as Chanel was, Shiaparelli was surrealist. 

In 1952, the one and only Hubert de Givenchy launched his first luxury ready to wear line full of separates that were initially reserved for fittings only. After becoming the talk of Paris fashion, he called for Ms. Hepburn. Only not Audrey. She was a pleasant mistake which resulted in a long, profitable partnership that gave way to signature sixties style. 

After traveling the world and back, Givenchy decided to retire. In 1995, he handed the company to John Galliano, Alexander McQueen, and Julien Macdonald. A decade later, Riccardo Tisci took over Givenchy Femme haute couture and ready to wear collections. I must say, after reviewing the Fall 2011 and Resort 2012 collections, he is doing a damned fine job. 

So what does Givenchy have for us? Let me give your eyes a little sampling. Don't get your hopes up 'cause I'm not posting the entire Resort 2012 collection here, just a few select items that I'm hanging up in my dream closet. Try not to ogle too much.

 

I love this dress. That pseudo-military pocket on the front with it being fitted and flared in the right spots makes this a must-have in my dream closet. I would wear the fuck out of this dress with or without the shrug on top.

LOVE THIS DRESS. The print, the colors, the play on a mirrored image, the belt - to die. I want it. Then, they add THIS to it:

And I'm sold. The shrug? The bag? They will be mine. Oh yes, they will be mine. 

As the Fall 2011 Couture Collection clearly represents the multitude of upcoming celebrity weddings, I came across one that I would absolutely give my newborn child for:

And let's not neglect the back:

 It's stunning simplicity with the most intricate detailing that grabs your attention without being drawn out or gaudy is a tremendous testament to Mr. Tisci. It's easy to see past the sheerness of the material in this transient, angelic piece. It's absolutely beautiful.

AVOIDING PANDAS LIKE THE PLAGUE

And by PANDAS, I'm not referring to the autoimmune disease found in children after a bout with strep. No sir. I'm referring to this culinary catastrophe found nationwide:

Why people flock to this egregious eatery which is nothing more than a giant slap in the face to Chinese cuisine is beyond me. Now, while a wide variety of our Chinese food establishments don't make more traditional dishes such as Mapo Doufu, zongzi, or mooncakes (which, in all fairness, are a special occasion item), almost anything you order will blow Panda Express out of the water. I feel Panda Express would better served if they chose a different direction for their business:

Perhaps the idea of Express Pandas is why my five year old so enthusiastically wanted to go there. Honestly, I prefer my Pandas doing Kung Fu and being voiced by Jack Black rather than hustling gummy chicken covered in fried goo. Pandas everywhere shake their heads at the sight of Eddie and Tom-Tom as they discuss "Experiencing Pandamonium." They couldn't have been more accurate than likening eating at Panda Express to the capitol of Hell.

My husband, son and I shared a plate of chow mein, orange chicken, "wok smart" black pepper chicken, honey walnut shrimp and spring rolls. Rather I should say we shared a plate of over-starched noodles, chewy tangy fried lumps, peppered gummy pieces, sweet thawed shrimp, and over-fried flavorless Chinese taquitos. Every bite was filled with an odd texture-flavor combination. The "wok smart" Black Pepper Chicken was coated in oil and grease, so I'm curious as to how that is a healthy option. In theory, it's only 250 calories per serving. However, things always look better on paper than in actual practice. It was tremendously unsatisfying and disappointing. Their saving grace? Dr. Pepper. You can never go wrong with Dr. Pepper. After all, it's fresh and good FOR LIFE.

So where do I get my Chinese fix? Glad you asked. If you want the best Sweet and Sour anything you've ever had in your life, check out Hong Kong House Chop Suey right here in Lansing, Illinois. Hong Kong House follows a more traditional Cantonese menu and, oddly enough, their Chop Suey is pretty tasty. If you prefer a more Szechuan style, opt for the China Chef (also located right here in Lansing). China Chef does a fantastic job of blending flavors and spice in a way that won't kill all your taste buds and actually leave you full. With over a hundred Chinese restaurants in the Chicagoland area and six in our meager village alone, why would anyone bother patronizing Panda Express?

feelin' blue

I'm a giant Muppet fan. Their technicolor approach to life is one that I have always admired. It has made me aware of other people's skin tones and fully accepted my own... until now. I'd like to send a big thank you to Harpers Bazaar for making me jealous of Smurfette's radiant blue skin providing her the opportunity to model such designers as Marc Jacobs, Dolce & Gabbana, Lanvin, and Louis Vuitton.

 Dressed in dots by Marc Jacobs. Believe it or not, these aren't just gorgeous CGI items - they are actual pieces you can purchase: Beret, $685, gloves, $400, fur bag, $4,695, socks, and shoes, $895.

Here Ms. Smurfette is all dolled up and ready to play in an outfit accessorized by D&G. This outfit is absolutely adorable! Bust out your billfold: Bag, $995, hat, $425, earrings, $225, cuff, $225, and pumps, $575. I love that hat.

The title picture where she's decked out in Lanvin will only set you back a little: Hat, $1,720, gloves, $790, cuff, $1,495, necklace, $1,485, and shoes, $1,345.

 

 Lastly we've got our blue beauty in none other than Louis Vuitton. Is it any surprise that the bag is by special order only? The hat is $1,230 and boots are $940. Love that color.  

Smurfette's one lucky girl. I'm super jealous. Then I saw these in the sidebar: 

These Chloe wedges are to die for and only cost $322. Chump change, right? I'll just place these in my dream closet alongside all my Miu Miu, Balenciaga, and numerous other designers I crave.

July Ms. Lumberlicious

 

 When I first saw the title "Ms. Lumberlicious" pop up in my news feed, I have to admit - I laughed my ass off at the pure absurdity of the title. Granted, it was for a lumberyard, but still - Lumberlicious? Upon further inspection, I found albums of Lumberlicious girls going back to October 2010. A creative advertising and marketing tool, I have to give major props to this St. Louis Lumberyard and Hardware store, they truly Do It Best. With photos advertising batteries, caulk guns, and garden lights, those Lumberlicious girls could sell me just about anything.

 

So what's so special about Ms. July? First of all, LOOK AT THOSE SHOES!

In the first picture, she's got these adorable blue sailor themed heels and here she's got some killer red heels (something every girl should have in her closet). Besides my uber shoe lust for Ms. July, how adorable is this 40s retro beauty? Dressed to kill and facial expressions that draw you in, I'd buy her hose and go for a dip in the pool she's sellin'.

Too cute. Another fantastic thing about Ms. July? She's a blogger! Combining two of my favorite worlds, burlesque and baking, Bonnie Von Voyage engages readers in The Hot and Bothered Kitchen. Not only is she eye candy, but she can make some mean sweets too. Be sure to check her out and get your wood, courtesy of Beyers Lumber and Hardware.

**Photos Courtesy of Beyers Lumber and Hardware 2010, 2011**

A TOUCH OF SWEETNESS

Cupcakes by Oh Sweetness

It's no secret: I love weddings. My absolute favorite part is seeing the groom's initial reaction upon seeing his bride walk down the aisle. To see their eyes glisten and beam with happiness always warms my heart with a feeling that is nearly unmatched.

When couples take the initiative to be creative and make their wedding experience as unique as they are truly makes wedding-going a pleasurable activity. This past weekend, I had the joy of making some 250 cupcakes for a fantastic couples' nuptials. They certainly took the initiative to have individual touches of their love and relationship throughout the evening.

The wedding was held at The Rialto Square Theater in Joliet, a beautiful venue built in 1926 which set the stage for the entire evening. With an esplanade modeled after the Hall of Mirrors in the Palace of Versailles and arch leading to the rotunda emulating the Arc de Triomphe, guests are easily transported away from modern day Illinois to 19th century Paris. Decorated very simply, the bride and groom did a fantastic job of adding to the atmosphere rather than deter from it's natural surroundings. They let the beauty do it's job.

After making your way from the rotunda through the promenade (which had a stand with handkerchiefs for your "Tears of Joy") you walk in to a theater surrounded by Greek gods such as Apollo and Jupiter. The stage was set and the colorful couple literally took centerstage to exchange their vows. Although they were surrounded by gorgeous, ornate decorations of an easier time period, they leapt forward a few centuries when the groom pulled out his phone to read his vows next to his dazzling bride. 

The reception was set in the esplanade and rotunda, with a few tall tables for drinks adorned with pictures of the couple throughout their relationship. The wedding also contained a special appearance by former American Idol cast member Chris Medina, singing "The Luckiest" by Ben Folds Five. With their relationship being filled with color, joy and laughter, their wedding followed suit. I'm so very glad that I got to be a part of and witness their special day. ; )

There's only one option.

(Photo Courtesy of Keith Dunn 2010)

Some days I wake up and have no desire to get out of bed. The thought of approaching my day and all that I have to accomplish is overwhelming and unappealing. I wonder how I'll get it all done and if it is even worth doing. Some times, I feel like throwing my hands up and walking away - never looking back. As I was driving to work the other day "Leaving Chicago" by Knockout shuffled on. The lyrics are simple:


"Sometimes I feel like leaving, forgetting all these feelings. Let me start over in a better place. It's raining, I'm staying, wish I could stop complaining, but now I'm stuck and I just can't move on. I don't think that this will work out on it's own. Times are hard when you just sit there all alone. Now that I'm getting older, no chance of starting over. I think too much about the times I've lost. Maybe I should realize that there is more to this life. Until then it's just me and apathy. I gotta get out, gotta get away from this. Something's keeping me from leaving. There's nothing left for me here."

But then I sit back, contemplate everything on my to do list, remember why it's all there and how many people are counting on me. What I do is not just for myself but for my kids, for my friends, for random people that I will never meet. I work so I can feed my family. I share my talents to help someone have a fantastic wedding day. I do my job well so that I can make someone's day without ever having met them. I can't afford to look back. I can't afford to regret any aspect of my life. The only option: Keep moving forward. Try new things. Put yourself out there. Take risks. Be curious. In the words of Walt Disney:

"We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths."

You never know what will work out in the end. But if you're doing what makes you happy, it makes life so much easier to manage. I've been forcing myself to fit my star peg in to a circle hole and it just doesn't work. And you know? I'm okay with that. There's a fit for me somewhere and I think I've just about found it. 

I decided to revamp this blog and really just post whatever I feel like (which was the original intention). Whether it's fashion, current events, introspection, art, baking, dancing, you name it - it could show up. This past year and some change has been rather tumultuous but I plan on keeping up shop with a little more regularity this go-round. ; ) 

Nothing like a half-year hiatus

And I'm back!

After much prodding from my followers, I am rekindling the life of "And the winner is". While there has been much action occurring in the realm of education (too much to recount at present), the topic I would like to discuss is that of extending the school day. During a discussion with a friend of mine who is a Cross-Categorical teacher, she had brought up devastatingly valid points including the fact that some parents send their children to school merely because the government requires them to. She states, "These are the parents that you can't get ahold of, don't come to parent meetings, don't show up to IEP meetings. When the school calls them they have no time to talk to any of the staff." As a mother of two special needs children is simply baffling. Over the years I have fought with the system for my childrens' needs to be acknowledged and cared for. I have had to chase after those in charge of treating my children and encouraging their growth. In this case, it is the exact opposite: the system chasing down the parents. However no matter who's chasing who in this obscene game of tag it is the same group that suffers - the kids. Either children go unsupported or unaided in their developmental growth due to the ignorance and complacency of those listed with the charge to help them. 


So what do we do about that? According to my cross-cat teacher friend, extend the school day. Giving children a better alternative to home will aid their growth. While I haven't had the opportunity to research this, she stated that most of the best schools in the country have school days going from 8am to 5 or 6 pm.This alternative would, indeed, keep the kids out of (what could very possibly be) a hostile home environment. On the flip side, it keeps healthy, mostly functioning families apart. 

What are your thoughts? Is extending the school day worthwhile? Are there any other potential possibilities to provide a safe environment or healthy growth?