Workly woes.

Ai chihuahua! It's been a long time since I've been hornswaggled by computers, nonetheless Macs, but today seems to be the day for it. I'm trying to edit a video and between software, hardware and all of the other issues, the going is suh-low.

Luckily, my ensemble seems to be working. The jacket is a Forever 21 creation and it is one of my favorite pieces that I've had in awhile.

Jacket: F21. Tank: Urban Outfitters. Jeans: Cheap Monday. Shoes: Thrifted by my sweet! Necklace: Some India-centric store in NYC. Umbrella: Not sure!

Bracelet: thrifted.

I've been stuck to the following song the last few days, and luckily for me and my wish to have blog-relevant music, the video is about escaping work frustrations:



Powering through,

Elissa.

Farmin' weekend.

Please forgive meh! I haven't been around on the Internet much, lately. In fact, I've been around exactly the opposite.


I spent this past weekend nosing around my fiance's grandparents' old farm with Sweetay and my future brother-in-law. It's been some time since anyone has lived here; eventually the plan is to completely rehab it and turn it into a family retreat. Til then, the farm is like a scrapbook of their colorful lives...

Two of the sweetest cats alive are the only residents here now.

World War II uniforms hanging neatly.

Inside a tool box.

I love this beautiful color.

A collection of cash registers gathers weeds.

Get a load of the fierce broad!

The barn itself is made of beams that are simply halved trees.

We rode in a golf cart through this field, pulling up flowers for a bouquet as we raced along. Think speed floral-arrangement could well become a new pastime of mine.

Finally wilting under the heat of the day, I left my bouquet with an especially curious and playful teenaged kitten.

I spent all this Tuesday filming an instructional video for one of the products at work today. I don't spend much time with video, but I'm always game to learn. One of the things I discovered is that there's definitely a reason no one's scouted me for a film on the street. B-A-D. But with a bit of brain-wracking and creativity, my co-star and I figured out a way to demonstrate our product without actually having to be in the film. We're dubbing and editing it this week, and it should be up on our site soon-- gawd I love being able to do cool stuff for work. Here's hoping the same for all of you!

Yours,

Elissa.

Very much in like with...

Things at the new gig are going well; I'm especially excited to flex my product development muscle a bit... I've been told, "Here's all of this awesome equipment, if you think of something cool we can do by all means...." And that makes me very excited, for I already have a few ideas up my sleeve, some of which I may share here soon.

Things that make me excited that I'll share right now are these:

Your Eyes Lie.

The most perfect of shirts, for those of us who always wanted a Diamond Dogs poster and Mickey Mouse ears, but the planets never aligned right.

Sorry for this miserable image from G-d knows where.

I like Lily, but I love Lily in glasses. These frames are legendary. I'm counting the days (well, months, really) til my health insurance kicks in, and then I'm going to bring the four-eyed rain.

YesStyle.

I'm totally in love with these hand-painted sneakers by HVBAO. I'm entertaining fantasies of taking a picture of myself wearing these on a park bench in fall. The beginning of October, in fact, when the wind blows crisply but the sun is still enough to warm you slightly if you sit still in one spot with your hands in your blue sweatshirt.

So you see, gentlemen, if you want to sell men on glass cielings, you can do it by providing some beautiful women to look up at!

Also, I'm in love with this utterly fantastic app from AMC. Dig yourself as a cartoonized character from MadMen! Keen!



Also, please do check out this haunting, 1964 version of the song, "Always Something There to Remind Me." I just discovered it today at dinner when my Sweets put on a record we hadn't listened to before. Amazing.

Cheers to new discoveries! What are you "very much in like with" this week?

Yours,

Elissa.

Newness.

Today I started at a new job. Everyone is funny and agreeable (and they read my blog, such good taste!). I'm excited to finally have a "dress like an adult" kind of job... although tomorrow I'll probably jeans it as they recommended, for I'll be down in the production area for the day making buttons and hopefully getting a whack at the embroidery machine, so I can learn more about the products I'll be promoting.

Blouse: Actually a dress, from Target. Skirt: Target. Hmm... Shoes: Nine West via Amazon. Bag: Urban Outfitters.

Shoes: Nine West via Amazon. Necklace: Forever 21. Bracelet: Thrifted.

After work (yes, after), I found what may well be the best workplace distraction besides Facebook. Looklet is a bit like Polyvore, but vastly improved. Your items appear on a model and in a setting of your choice, and putting together outfits is like playing high-tech paper dolls. There's also a "love it" feature which is rather gratifying when you've spent the last half hour "styling", as they put it (but really, why not call a spade a spade?). Below, a few that I've put together:


My little Trustifarian rocks a vest-topped, Grecian-inspired evening gown to a picnic. Though feeling the boho flavor, she still wouldn't forgo a classic bag. I mean let's get real. It's a Louis Vuitton, and besides, it was Grandmother's. It's vintage.


Here, my sexy, beach-going bookworm. She doesn't care much about the way she looks but she isn't shy, and manages to throw things together just so. A slouchy cardigan with a mesh bodysuit and wooden heels might be the perfect thing to wear on the boardwalk tonight when she has to break a boy's a heart because, sigh... he doesn't read.


Normally seen at a sprint around the school's track, this one has finally been coaxed into something feminine for the prom. Separates make it a bit more casual, and the asymmetrical weirdness of it all makes her outfit "like, I dunno... funner?". But don't expect her to wear some kind of lacy cover-up or stiff jacket. This girl feels at home in sweats, and she came to this party to move.



Who can explain my art? And why would you? What a useless concept. You either feel something, or you don't. I can tell that you're some tragic troglodite who wants me to wrap up my sculpture for you in a pretty bow, become something other than the blood, feathers and television sets that it is made of so you can take it home to your pretty wife and show off to all of your friends who will marvel at what a philistine you aren't. Well I won't be doing that for you. So good day, sir. Good day.

Looklet is still in Beta version, so helpful additions to the site like being able to import clothing from other websites (a strength of Polyvore's), or styling a guy would be nice. What do you think? Give it a try! Looklet, Polyvore or Photoshop?

Play on,

Elissa.

Winner!

I have to say that this was one of my more favorite contests to host, simply because it gave me the opportunity to be inspired by my readers. After many arduous hours reviewing the fashion-inspirational video clips you sent into me, a winner has been decided (by virtue of argument amongst myself and friends). This clip left me inspired for days later, and in fact served as a guide for a recent thrifting journey. The dress that I found there is at the dressmaker's being altered to Gwen-like hotness, but will make its debut here soon.

Here, the winning clip:



Reader known as "Midnight Cowgirl", you are the winner of the Current/Elliott Jean Leggings in Black, couresy of Chickdowntown. Shoot me an email at spandexpony@gmail.com for details on how to claim your prize!

A big thank-you to Chickdowntown for sponsoring the contest, and a huge, sloppy thank-you to all of you for sharing your inspirations with me!

Til next time,

Elissa.

Flowers 'n' Darkness

It suddenly dawned on me this week that the wedding countdown is nigh... three more months to go, and there's still so much to be done! This week alone, I researched photographers (and have since decided to look for a talented student, for the unorthodox eye and ahem-- affordable pricing), made an appointment for a cake-tasting, got most of the addresses I've been dragging my feet on asking for, and consulted with a florist (I'm gonna compare three).

Clockwise from top right: delphinium, foxtail fern, hyacinth hybrid, peony, hypericum berries, mini callas, a swag I'd like to see over the threshold of the gazebo, potential boutonierres for all of the men in attendance and the type of shape I'd like my bridal bouquet to be.

I'm not huge into flowers, but when working with someone who knows what they're doing, what looks good and what's possible, the juices got a-flowin. Since our theme is Art Deco and our colors are navy, peach and silver, I knew I wanted elegant, vertically-oriented flowers like hyacinth. The first florist guided me towards hypericum berries, peach mini callas, delphinium and foxtail ferns for vegetation. There's also a fountain where the ceremony and reception are, so we're going to float some waterlilies in there. Le sigh!!!

Blouse: thrifted. Shoes: JC Penney. Skirt: ModCloth. Necklace: KidViskous on Etsy.

I left the appointment excited, but with a tinge of sadness that grew throughout the day... Although I thankfully have the wonderful help of my soon-to-be mother-in-law, I do really wish that my mom were around to get excited with me, offer advice and bond with. I considered staying in last night for a gigantic weep-fest, but instead gussied up a bit to party with the ladies (and gents).

I love these shoes... I rampaged a clearance at JC Penney and got them for only $9!

Also, the contest has ended! I'll review all of your entries and pick a winner in the next couple of days. A big thank you to all who entered!

Yours,

Elissa.