Peacock dance!!!!!

ok, so I'm aware that this is completely random but I have a fascination with peacocks. The dance gets kinda boring after a minute but still, what a beautiful bird!

Back to Black

Amy Winehouse was found dead yesterday morning in her apartment.
My reaction: GOD DAMN IT!!!
In all honesty, I kinda saw it coming as I'm sure we all did. But somehow her death still stroke quite a chord on my heart strings. Surprisingly, it was actually my mom (I'm sure you are tired of hearing about her) who introduced me to Winehouse's music on a road trip to Detroit. By the end of the first day (its a two day trip from my hometown in Texas to my mother's hometown in Michigan) we were singing every song on her Back to Black album. My two favorite songs were always "Black to Black" and "Tears dry on their own" and I considered them to be my best break up songs. They got me through a lot shitty relationships and reminded that I was a bad ass and did not need "stupid men" and that even so, it was ok to still cry and feel passionately (obviously i never really paid much attention to the drug references). She was also the only singer I could confidently sing to and sort of emulate in the car or shower and some of the only songs that I would sing if I were ever forced to sing karaoke. I had always lumped her with greats such as Aretha Franklin, and Whitney Houston and yet she had this rare, wonderful nitty gritty feeling that was bad ass, ugly and sexy. I fear that we will never hear another singer like her in this shamefully pathetic music industry where people settle for only things with "a great dance beat" or the shit that gets stuck in you head like Rebecca Black's "Friday" or just the shit thats just shitty and shallow and emotionless. And what really drives me crazy is that the populace eats it up like its honey and forget about the people who actually HAVE talent! But I will stop there as to not go off on some crazy rant.
Back to my point: I miss Amy Winehouse. I miss her music. I miss her smokey, sexy feel and her bad ass confidence. I miss the way she dressed with its loose, dirty sex appeal. And above all, I miss her talent. Unfortunately, I have a very busy day ahead of me so I will not be able to make this post as long as I would have liked so I will leave you with one of my favorites of hers and a link to a fantastic photo shoot that pays homage to her tough sultry style.

http://www.stylecaster.com/fashion/14294/remembering-amy-winehouse-muse-musical-legend#136128

Rest in Peace Amy. And worry not, for our tears will also dry on our own. 

The Serene Tsunami and My Love: A Dream

So I know this has nothing to do with my blog... at all. But it was just so odd I had to share it. I apologize for not editing, it is very early in the morning. Here is my dream:

I am in some sort of youth hostel in a coastal European city. With me are my boyfriend, Tarryn (one of my longest friends) and some of her friends as well as a few of my acquaintances and some random people I didn't know. We were having quite a lovely time. We had smushed all of our twin beds together so that we could be close to each other. The sheets were white and we were near a large window probably on the 4^th or 5^th floor. Maybe even the third but my point is we are just above some of the nearby houses which are all made out of stone and look like they have been there for forever and there are definitely a few floor above us. Someone looks out at the coast from the window at the other side of the room and says that there was a tsunami coming and we had to prepare quick! There was a moment where everyone seemed like they weren’t sure what we should do but then it seemed like people just suddenly knew what we needed to do. We had brought these sort of scuba diving masks looking things but they didn’t need to be attached to a tank. They just took the oxygen from the water. Other people who weren’t as prepared or fortunate just covered their mouths with cups and reused their own air. We layed down on the beds (no where else to go except for maybe the bathroom or hallway) and coverd ourselves with a big white sheet I look over to my right and there’s my boyfriend. He holds my hand firmly as the wave came and enveloped us almost like we were just at the beach laying in the sand and the water just rushing up our bodies. I didn’t feel fear although I was a little anxious but I felt like everything was going to be fine. Tarryn seemed just as placid. The water filled the room and I just focused on breathing and my boyfriend's hand in mine. The water was a dark inky blue grey and it filled the room but I felt that I could see clearly. There was a little bit of a feeling of vertigo but it wasn’t unpleasant. My boyfriend's hand stayed in mine. And as quick as it came the water went back to the ocean leaving our room. I had my eyes closed but I remember feeling like I was slowly, carefully falling almost like we were gently being put back to bed. I open my eyes after the water is gone and sit up and look at my boyfriend. He just has that sweet yet cocky grin he always has as he smiles at me and holds my forearm. I look out the window and see how green everything is. There are tree limbs and debris all over the place and some places still look marshy and wet but the overall feeling is very green and full of trees. I look up to find that the floors above us are gone and instead there is a tree top covering the majority of the “roof” I notice how on one side the leaves are going from green to yellow to red. And I think its pretty. I look out the window again and say something about the older watermarks on the stone houses and another girl starts talking about a time she once traveled to a castle and looked down at the watermarks and the news people caught her and put it on tv. And then everyone just swaps travel and history stories and I wake up. 

Its so weird. I would certainly be interesting to hear someone's dream interpretation of that, not that i necessarily believe in such things. Now that I look back on it, it kind of reminds me of the song "At the Bottom of Everything" by Bright eyes (if you haven't heard it before you should really look it up... or i might post it. I love this song). Anyways, thats what I have to say on this lovely, obnoxiously early morning. Let me know of you at least found this interesting or if you happen to have a theory on the ryme or reason for this dream. Crazy and possibly "stupid answers are always welcome.
Oh! and good morning! Hope you are enjoying your coffee because I sure need some.
and yes there is supposed to be talking at the begining. its kind if important but of it bothers you just skip a min. 

Bellydancing... Could I be any more of a flower child?

I've been needing to shake up my fitness routine as all I seem to do is Ellipticals, Zumba, and a few weights and I was getting quite bored. So, of course, I consulted in my good friend the internet. First I started looking for Flamenco. I have been in love with the dance ever since my trip to Spain with my mother and close friend and I had recently read an article about a woman whose depression was cured by taking a weekly flamenco class. Now, I don't have depression but I am quite moody (my wonderful boyfriend can vouch for this), a serotonin junky and have always had a curiosity for the foreign, mysterious and sexy (again, view my wonderful Egyptian boyfriend). But unfortunately the closest flamenco class to me was an hour away on the other side of Dallas and far too expensive for me to afford... but I did notice that there was a page about my local costume shop that had a flamenco fusion class... so I clicked on it! And there she was! This beautiful woman, Nacheska, who owned this costume shop that I had been going to for years for all my costuming needs (which are many as I grew up in the theater and delight in Halloween just as much as I did when I was a child). I knew she did dance classes but I had no clue what kind of dance she taught and, as it turns out, she teaches just about everything including, but not at ALL limited to, belly dancing, hula, world, and all these classes with Samba/Flamenco/ Latina/Chinese/Middle Eastern/fusion! And I noticed that a new belly dance class was going to start.... TONIGHT! The price was more than fair (about 5 bucks a class, just to pay the studio electricity bill) so I dawned my harem pants, sports bra (I ended up wearing a t shirt over it because i was too chicken), and my cheap Victoria Secrets perfume (one sale for $3!!!!) and went off into the night for a magic carpet ride. Unfortunately, I was late. The dance room was rather hard to find but after I circled the building, found the door, and went up the stairs, I found a door that read "renaissance muscle therapy".... this was not dance room but it was interesting to see. I made a 180 and finally saw it! The dance studio. I open the door and am already completely satisfied. what do I find? Well, scarves, bells, hats, feathers, mirrors, and of course, Darth Vader. I peep around the corner and ask "is this the dance room?" to which a hidden goddess replies "yes! But you are 10 minutes late!" (I am automatically taken back in time to when I had a very strict ballet teacher with a cane and an impossibly thin waist for a woman who looked so ancient) but she told me not to worry as the girls who would have been there today couldn't be because they were on holiday and that the class would start again next week and there were many classes tomorrow that I would be interested in taking. I figured, oh well, today has already been quite an interesting day (I'll tell you more about it later) I'll just come back tomorrow. But I ended up talking to Nacheska for 10 minutes about SCAD and my major and losing weight, and how my mother was a Hula dancer, etc when she gets a call from one of the other "baby belly dancers" who says that she is coming up the stairs. I am VERY thankful that she was a whole 10 minutes later than me and that my sin might possibly be forgotten. Nachesa then decides that she might as well teach us and give us a leg up on the other girls in belly dancing 101. And my God did I love it!!! Belly dancing, I discovered, was not just about gyrating around like a noodle but power and control. When your shoulder moves, that does NOT mean that your hand should as well. Your hand should stay in one place until YOU tell it to move whether you are simply moving your shoulder back in forth or full out shimmying. You booty should not stick out from your spine, as my rump likes to do, but stay firmly stacked under your spine in a vertical line (try this for 5 minutes, I DARE you! stand up and stack your spine in a straight line and stay that way. Harder than you thought? Right?). By the end of the class, I was doing pretty well for my first time and I could not stop smiling. I felt sexier than I had in quite some time as well as more daring. Perhaps next time I will wear a tighter shirt or pants that don't completely hide my body? We will have to see I guess. I'm going again tonight!

Top 20 Fashion Schools: SCAD pride!

I'm so proud to be studying fashion at Savannah College of Art and Design!!!!! I read this article just now discussing the top 20 fashion schools in the states and I was delighted to see that SCAD, my first pick, was number 6!!! And that the Luxury and Fashion Management (one of my majors) was considered one of the best of its kind in the nation! It was just so fulfilling to see that other recognized what I already knew was the truth and to be affirmed that I had chosen wisely and that I am heading in the right direction. I noticed Parsons was labeled number one and while I agree that it does have a history of pumping out some of the world's finest designers (like the beloved Donna Karen), I feel that SCAD had a little more to offer and that it filled a much needed niche in the art school "universe" and that because I am attending this school that I could possibly have something to offer that many students from Fashion schools in New York (don't get me wrong, they ARE great schools and I LOVE New York) won't. I definitely feel that my experiences at SCAD will no doubt be ones that I cherish and would not have been able to have had I gone to a New York fashion school. New York, I love you. Someday we will be very close lovers. But I think part of my "coming of age" should be a crossover between the life I grew up in (Texas) and the life I will choose (my beloved New York) and that SCAD just had a little something that I felt was missing in New York, what that was, I really couldn't tell you. But I DO feel that it will be advantageous.
I was also very pleased to see that Andre Leon Talley is on the Board of Directors. I have always loved him, almost as much as I have loved Anna Wintor (oh yeah, I kind of want to be her. No. I want to be her successor), and I am well aware of the tight friendship... so you can see where I'm going with this right? And no, its not just the job, the career and the power that I'm interested in, although it is part of why I want it, but I just feel that they have made such a wonderful impact on fashion and that they are both such wonderful, beautiful people, at least from what I can tell from interviews, and I want to be able to do that too. I've loved what they've had to say in the few interview that they do. Ha! I recall what Andre Leon Talley once said for nymag.com
"I will sit in the car on the way to a meeting and just smile. I really mean that. It helps you get through life. If you have nothing to say, smile. Look up at the sky and smile. Just be grateful."
and I remember thinking "Hey, I do that too!"  In fact, I even used that character trait to get the job that I have now at a popular retail store in my city. By the way, I freaking love this job! All the hard work it took just to get the interviews was well worth it and I can not wait until my next shift! All I do is smile and make friends with people and tell them they they look great and organize clothing... all things that I love to do! What I found most striking about Andre's quote was that before I even read this article (written in 2008) I had seen him on a podcast and thought "WOW, he has one of the mist genuine smiles I have ever seen."
So back to the point! Thank God I'm going to SCAD and thank YOU, SCAD for accepting me and providing me with the education I thrive on.

If you are interested here is the article on the 20 best Fashion Schools in the US. http://fashionista.com/2011/07/the-top-20-fashion-schools-in-the-united-states-the-fashionista-ranking/
and here is the link to the interview with Andre Leon Talley mentioning Anna Wintor.
http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2008/09/andre_leon_talley_on_anna_wint.html

Perfume Obsession: Blood orange Thirst

Why the hell can't I find the right perfume?! I've been searching for months for the perfect blood orange perfume for summer and lo and behold, they barely even exist! And when they do exist they can't be found at my local Ulta or Sephora or even parfumania or they are incredibly expensive!
or even worse they just dont last. Escada Taj smelled AMAZING!!!! But an hour later and it had gone to perfume Siberia and there was not even a hint that it had even touched my skin. There is not way in Heaven or hell that i would buy something so weak and cowardly for over $40.  Amor Amor Summer 2011 or elixer is no where to be found.... ANYWHERE! Ayala Moriel is no where to be found either along with DKNY's Summer.
The two the really caught my eye were Hugo Boss Deep Red (only available at perfumania for $40) and Mata Hari (named after the famed fleshy, lovely dancer) dsh perfume which is way over my price range (85$ for 5ml!!!!) , the one whose description made my heart pound like I had just fallen in love or hell even just become some fiery vixen! check out this review and you will see what i mean as well as get some background info on this woman if you dont know of her http://www.scenthive.com/2011/02/26/dsh-perfume-mata-hari/
as well as this one http://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/DSH-Perfumes/Mata-Hari-10954.html
I swear even the description just makes me want to take my clothes off and eat an orange on the beach at night. And I never say things like that! Nor do I do things like that! Hell, I wont even wear skimpy bathing suits other than to tan in the privacy of my VERY private back yard and even then everything major is covered and i usually walk in and out in a skirt and top, just in case there is unexpected company. In fact, the only person who has seen me naked (and even then I was wearing a towel) in a long time was my best friend and thats only because she's a girl and I was running behind.
But none the less, This one perfume with all its forbidden-ness drives me wild and is becoming quite an obsession and yet there seems to be no way for me to get a hold of it or anything like it. If you happen to know of a way I could get a hold of it for cheaper (yes i've checked ebay, amazon, and overstock) PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE tell me!!!!
By all means, please suggest other perfumes with blood orange and a similar concoction but I honestly just feel jaded by perfume at this point. Or share your stories of perfume frustration or success. Ha! I'm starting to think I'm even frustrating my boyfriend with this whole perfume mess.

Mata Hari^

Need a work out playlist!!!!!!

OK, so its no secret that I'm typically more of a low key, jazz, classic rock kind of girl but that kind of music doesn't really get me pumped to work out. So I ask my wonderful boyfriend what he does and apparently he has this playlist (why the hell did I not think of this?!) with tons of songs like lil' wayne and linkin park (LOVE linkin park). Who else does this? Whats on your playlist? and more importantly, what should i put on mine?!
Going to the gym right now. I'm going to mull this over but by all means, post what you do, what you think I should do, who to listen to, who you listen to, what really gets you pumped?
thanks you guys. really need the motivation

oh... and does anyone know where I can find a 32DD sports bra? I am having the hardest time! The first one to find me one either on line or in store will.... get mentioned? idk. ill think of something. maybe ill sing a Thank You song