The Effort for the Effortlessness

Today I offer up my apologizes for the millionth time in conjunction to the fact that I suck at blogging on a regular basis.  Today I blame it on having had strep last week, which is one of my better excuses, if I do say so.

In my battles of the all that ill, I still tried to look half-way decent--as I had a few friends visiting from far off states for only the weekend...I could not lie in bed ALL day.  I tried for the "effortless" look with a long skirt...and lots of blush and a hefty dose of mascara on my face to aid in looking more human.

Great for me, I was only going to family (other families...not my own, mind you) barbecues and other more casual things.  I wanted to look put together as not to embarass my friends, but you never wanna stick out like a sore thumb in such situations either!

Effortlessness can most easily be defined by a piece of clothing by the "maxi skirt".  She's a thing of beauty and a thing of real terror.  Generally I feel like a taller lump of a few limbs than I already am in a maxi...so I haven't worn one in years.  This maxi skirt i recently picked up, however, has a undeniable movement to the bottom of the skirt that bandaged all my fears and made me a believer again.  I felt alive (but it was probably all of these prescriptions for my infection).

So if you wanna be comfortable and look put together, I suggest a somewhat fitted and flared maxi for such occasions as the family meet-and-greet.

Give it a twirl.

Give it a whirl.

Be Back Soon <3<3

MIX & MATCH : STRIPES

You know the name of the game-- mix & match.

but my favorite take?  the same matching pattern with some mixing....

To me, a striped shirt can go nautical very quickly (not that that's a

 bad thing sometimes!)  but when you want to feel a little less in the 

safe, mixing up the scale of a stripe can do wonders

* you'll want to make sure there's quite a bit of difference is size of

the stripes if you are only doing two pieces of clothing...you'll just 

look messy, if so >.<

xo

Alex

WHITE WALLS ( and a little black )

As blank as I love keeping my walls to use for plain backdrops in photos...I had to jazz mine up a little because it looked like no one actually lived in the apartment.

The jazz cost about $2.  Making it even more jazzy.

 Taking washi tape (a tape very similar to masking tape, but with less sticky residue and a more paper-like feel)  I created a faux headboard with three quick strips!  I measured up with a tape measure from each side of the bed and marked a few spots in the middle, kept the tape taught when applying, and magically got a much more straight line that I could have ever imagined.

I've had multiple people over, and all be very surprised to find out it wasn't a headboard...it has a very deceiving 3D effect apparently!

And the only other thing on my walls, you ask? 

                           

Clear clipboards used sort of like you would a picture frame.  The "art"?  Cut out pieces from paper sacks I used as a drop cloth when painting my trunk.  I'm such a punk.

Welcome to my home! I hope you like it!

<3

Alex

p.s.-- I'm not sure why blogspot demands to make my photos look like a lumpy pile of grossness...they are originally much more crisp and white </3  if you are blogspotter and have any tips on exporting files or on the upload to blogspot, I'd much appreciate the aid

BEDSIDE: THE EASIEST DIY NIGHTSTAND

As I've posted a bit about it before,  I've recently moved into my own studio apartment.  It's my first time living alone...(with my pet rat, of course) and it's been really lovely!  It's amazing what a mess I can create within minutes of sifting through my closet!  And the kitchen?!  I'm incredible at dirtying ALL of my dishes in one quick session.  But knowing you're the sole creator of the mess....makes you a bit of a clean freak, so thankfully if you come on a good day, it's pretty tidy.

Since this is my first time living sans-roommates, I had a weird amalgamation of items in my possession...and did not have a single pot or pan...man, was I a shitty roommate?  Nonetheless, I've been trying to slowwwlyy add to my collection of crap, in a thoughtful and more minimal manner this time around.

So when I realized I had no furniture and that I was going to still be picky about it...I lived in a very empty apartment for the first month.  Only now is it looking a bit more liveable.  My newest acquisition(s) are what I'm going to show you today!

One thing that is nice to have are side tables.  One thing that is expensive when you go looking for them is...side tables.  I'm not loaded here, and hey, I already had to splurge on some pots and pans recently!

THE SOLUTION:

A T.V. TRAY + A TRAY

FOR WHAT? $8-10 for a tv tray? SOLD

IT WAS SO EASY. I don't even need to explain.

The tray is nice to add because all your little odds and ends (DEAR LAWD the amount of bobby pins lurking in my apartment) are contained.  I was so lucky to stumble upon this tray too...it's heavy and ceramic and was on sale <3___<3

The maybe even greater thing about doing this is that you can use the tray for BREAKFAST IN BED

And you can not feel like a piece of scum for eating in bed, but instead, feel really cool...cuz yr cool

So...with that...who wants to come make me breakfast?  I'll be in bed.

<3

Alex

THE PERSONALITY OF AN OUTFIT (IN TIME & SPACE)

~*~*~*~**~**!*!!~~*~*~*!*~~

~*~*~*~~~*~!!~**~~**~*~*~~

Greetings! Today's post, (like many others) serves no rhyme or reason, but I hope you enjoy it all the same.  I was recently at a senior show for the KU graphic design kids (that is their official title).  Those dudes and dudettes blow my mind...and I know how fast they can crank out stuff...I can do a mediocre job on designing stuff but it takes me centuries compared to their mere minutes behind a computer.  Nonetheless, I was pleasantly surprised to come across a few familiar faces..ones I hadn't seen in much too long!  I stopped and chatted with a boy I'd had a technical drawing class with (he, M U C H better than I).  We flipped through his portfolio, something I didn't get to do with any of the other designers but by this point it was nearing the end of the night.  He showed me a project he did featuring objects of peoples rooms and then the rooms themselves.  It's always an interesting subject, and one that is often visited.  I liked his approach though, and he had told me he'd recently taken a pyschology course focusing on the study of personalities (a course I took my first year in school!).   It was nice that he also didn't include the people themselves in the images or design...but you know I can't resist including my stupid face on here :P

So, all this thinking (you know...~*being artsy*~) and then a few days pasted and I forgot.  And then I was like "Alex, you need to blog today" and in reply I told myself "Yeah maybe that skirt you've NEVER worn"

So in my own battle of multiple personalities, I bring you this outfit.  I didn't know what I was going to write to you about it, but upon seeing the images, I knew I must come back to this idea of the items we have and the spaces we occupy and how they more often than not reflect one another.  I think it goes without explaining...all black...all white...every...thing makes me happy

And hey, a note to myself...you should probably wear this skirt more often u dummy :)

One last thing!

If you didn't catch my last post on Sunday...I am doing a giveaway!!!!!  Click through the image below or here to get entered (it's very easy, I promise, and you might get a free t-shirt & we can be twins)

<3

SUMMER in the CITY

OH DEAR BLAWG,

it's been a long stint, has it not?

I am sorry to have left you, high and dry, but I will be back with lots and lots of goods the next few weeks to make up for it.  I recently got the opportunity two weeks ago to travel to Austin, Texas with a group of amazing photographers & models to shoot for a fall campaign (I can't really tell you too much...SECRETS R SECRETS!)  But I am using my being gone for that as an excuse.

OH.

and another excuse!

I moved last weekend to a new studio apartment in Hyde Park, here in Kansas City.  My things are finally finding their own spots here in the apartment, and I've got a lot to blog about.  Get ready to adventure with me soon into designing and decorating the place :)

Until then, I have a random post about shoes...because we all love shoes and they make us happy and also I didn't have to photograph my face.

So.

THE TOPIC:

~*SUMMER FOOTWEAR*~

I think it's the lack of socks, I don't know, but summer kicks are (in general) a pain!  I get so used to wearing the same pair of boots all winter...and NOW WHAT.  Nothing seems to go with the outfits I'm wearing and I am looking like a real hot mess (literally sweating).

PRAISE THE HEAVENS FOR BLACK FLATS.  

There are a lot of cute heels for the summer, a lot of ugly ass sandals for the summer, but most importantly there are the things that you'll want to actually wear out in public every day.

I recently snagged the above pair on sale and couldn't be happier.  They transition well from my work day, to my everyday, to everywhere in between.  Being open on the sides they are easy and breezy, too, so think about that when you are looking for a new summer pair!

And what else will you find me wearing this summer?

NOTHING BUT THESE THINGS. PER USUAL.

<3

with better material next time,

Alex

WINNING THE GAME W/O PLAYIN'

To begin let me make excuses as to why my posting has been prolonged:

a. I have no free time because I started rewatching 30 Rock on Netflix from the beginning
b. I don't wear anything but grey and black and white and I wear the same 3-5 outfits to work
c. I thought my camera lens was in need of repair but it was just reeeally dusty
d. I'm LAZY
e. all of the above

correct answer: E. ALL OF THE ABOVE, FOLKS

Moving onward and forward to the topic of today. Let's focus on a few important things going on in my life like how do I survive winter and not look like I'm just roaming around in clothes fit for hibernating? Another important factor to discuss today is "How to Be a Baller"/"How to Win the Game"

As you may recognize, I'm introducing a well seasoned player from previous blog posting experiences today- this sequin jersey.  I decided to not be stupid just wearing the tank top jersey and finally put some damn clothes on...since it's apparently December already. And to put more clothes on means that beautiful thing called layering.

 LAYERING IS REALLY HARD THOUGH, EVEN THOUGH THEY SAY IT'S EASY.

Am I right? My thought process stemmed from "okay, a turtleneck under this? no? *shudders*" to "i only have one cardigan and i wear it too much, people definitely notice"

GOD SAVE THE LONG SLEEVE BUTTON DOWN:

swish for the win

The button down dresses up the more casual qualities of a sportswear piece and add some complexity to a before now, pretty basic idea. 

Also on a side note I saw this photo (below) on the internet a few weeks ago and wanted to be as cool as her:

(she's so much better as being cool though, let's be honest)

To complete the look, I didn't want to overwhelm an already dazzling "star athlete" of a jersey so black jeans were the obvious choice.  Footwear, however, had to provide some stability and interest to the look.  And lucky for me and my lack of blogging lately I have, indeed, gained a new member in my closet: SOME HEFTY ASS TIMBERLANDS~

and I guess I'll end on that note.

xx your favorite goon, Alex

BLACK TAR

 Let me preface my long, and drawn out blog post by commenting on how I've blogged three days in a row with a 6-month or so hiatus prior, so I'm going to pat myself on the back.  On to the goods:



Yesterday after a job interview (which we will talk about later) I somehow wandered into a Sephora. I've been eyeing OCC's Lip Tar ever since the first time I heard about it...and then I just kept hearing about it.  $18 a pop though?? A GIRL CAN DREAM...and with about a billion colors to choose from online, I kept dreaming-- you don't wanna be stuck w/ a color that looks ungodly.  Thanks to my favorite beauty expert & photographer friend, Bailey Munson, I frantically messaged her to see if she'd tried the product and if so if she had suggestions!  Upon her suggestion, I purchased the color "Queen" and I'm definitely in love!

Oh...speaking of that whole interview business...the look I posted yesterday was what I was wearing.  This outfit I threw on today has been one of my other favorite go-to interview outfits.  Again, black and white have become my favorite colors of choice.  This trumpet/tulip (whatever they're calling it these days) is definitely great because I am totally seeing the look coming into this fall season--funny thing is I bought this very randomly at a Charlotte Russe store in Topeka, KS last winter on a really strange premonition and, hey, I couldn't lose at $2 on the sale rack!