raw raw blah blah blah

So in case any of you haven't seen Lady Gaga's new video for "Alejandro" -- DON'T.

As a woman dedicated to modesty and purity, especially in relation to dignity, I am appalled and distraught to see Ms. Gaga's latest attempt at a music video. Lacking in much "thought provoking content" (I did find the "Bad Romance" video to be interesting and thought provoking, if a near occasion of sin as well), it seemed a visual display dedicated to erotica and practically pornography for the sake of... itself.

As some of you may know, I'm a Catholic. And though the latex nun suit was kinda cool (i can appreciate interesting fashion), I didn't find much of a commentary on it besides straight up blasphemy juxtaposed against the cross-on-the-crotch outfit that she pulls later. This time it wasn't just a near occasion of sin, it was outright depravity that I saw. I was offended, upset, and cried for my faith and for her. It was such a sad display, and I can't really be convinced that it was worth anything besides shock value. There was only one outfit i particularly liked, i don't find the song very interesting, and she straight up pulled the oldest hat in the book -- she was prejudiced and took painstaking measures to offend the only group on earth for whom it is still socially "acceptable" to berate: the Catholic Church.

She's passed the "good ol' days" of "Bad Romance" that made a social commentary while being dirty and trampy... she's sunk to a new level of raw while singing something that comes across as "blah blah blah" more than anything else.

anyway...

thinking about Ms. Gaga today, i was reminded that I know (part of) the dance to "Bad Romance," so I decided to try out my hand at gifs with my outfit pics for today. :)

hope you think its as hilarious as i do!

today was an easy day, working in the house, making some stuff and cleaning up my disaster of a room (I had been hoarding stuff for years that I really would much rather not have, so I got rid of it!), and just chilling with the family. I have Fridays off, so its nice to have that time to just relax and have some sort of a summer!

gold tie blouse: thrifted, black leggings: Target, gold flats: Hot Kiss, AWESOME sunglasses: xhilaration/Target, bangle: thrifted/vintage, heart necklace: Target

~(§]

to top it all off

~

"A hat is a flag, a shield, a bit of armor, and the badge of femininity. A hat is the difference between wearing clothes and wearing a costume; it's the difference between being dressed and being dressed up; it's the difference between looking adequate and looking your best. A hat is to be stylish in, to glow under, to flirt beneath, to make all others seem jealous over, and to make all men feel masculine about. A piece of magic is a hat." (Martha Sliter)

Today i wore my new thrifted white hat dress -- and of course I had to wear my white hat to go with it!

Upon finding the above quote I was greatly pleased! My hats always make me feel more classy, more feminine, and something about them just adds a bit of mystery and intrigue to my wonderfully monotonous life.

white hat dress: thrifted, white sun hat: Target, yellow shoes: Hot Kiss via FF, purse: Disney!

my most favorite bag that i own: it's a 21st birthday gift from my brother!

I love this "take" on the classic Disney "Alice" - i love paisley!!!

i'm late for a very important date ---- with my bed!

i'll be off now! au revoir!

my favorite poem of all time

hi there. :) hope you're doing well and life is treating you kindly!!

I have known this poem for a long, long time. And I have loved it since the first time I read it as a naive yet romantic young third grader... all those years ago.

And it is still my favorite poem. Please -- enjoy.

This is dedicated to all of my friends who have helped me along the way~

~most specifically, my brother, who has just graduated and will be entering a new and different phase of life.

Never lose sight of what is most important, baby brother.

~~

I love you, Not only for what you are, But for what I am When I am with you.

I love you, Not only for what You have made of yourself, But for what You are making of me. I love you For the part of me That you bring out; I love you For putting your hand Into my heaped-up heart And passing over All the foolish, weak things That you can’t help Dimly seeing there, And for drawing out Into the light All the beautiful belongings That no one else had looked Quite far enough to find.

I love you because you Are helping me to make Of the lumber of my life Not a tavern But a temple; Out of the works Of my every day Not a reproach But a song.

I love you Because you have done More than any creed Could have done To make me good And more than any fate Could have done To make me happy. You have done it Without a touch, Without a word, Without a sign. You have done it By being yourself. Perhaps that is what Being a friend means, After all.

~Roy Croft

~~

and now for some outfit pics from the day of my brother's graduation, last Saturday. My makeup was running that day, believe me.

dress: vintage, belt: vintage, shoes: BC Footwear via FF, heart necklace: Target, bracelet: Fossil necklace worn as bracelet.

when this is guiding you home

So I suspect that you've heard the new music on here?

In case you were curious, the first song is "Such Great Heights," (originally performed by The Postal Service, acoustically performed by Iron & Wine) covered by my amazing beau, Kyle.

The second song is "You Really Got a Hold on Me," (originally performed by The Miracles, covered by She & Him) covered by myself, randomly one night. I'm thinking that he and I need to get together and put together some actual cover recordings for my blog. 'twould be nice, wouldn't it?

The reason I asked him to record "Such Great Heights" for me is because I knew that long-distance, I would miss him dreadfully and would want something to listen to that could just remind me of him. This does more than that, because I've heard him play it in person, I get to hear his voice -- and if I close my eyes, I can almost imagine him in the room playing for me. It's a sweet token and I loved the song before. Now it's definitely become one of my favorites!

~~

Today I'm going to show my outfit from my brother's graduation party! I picked out the cutest ensemble, and remixed a dress that I wore to my brother's FIRST graduation party. I love the goldenrod color, and I really don't have enough of it. So I made my dress a skirt (for all intents and purposes, anyway). :D

i finally got some new shoes!

dress: gizzy via Modcloth, blouse: Tulle, hat: vintage via Eons, tights: Target, shoes: Hot Kiss via FF, belt: vintage

my baby bwuver went and growed up

GAH!

*sigh*

it seems that I have come to a point in my life where I must accept that I am, in fact, OLD.

Ancient, practically. :P

My baby bwuver, Anthony Nicholas, just graduated from Jesuit High School in the class of 2010. I have no idea how that happened. I swear yesterday we were hanging out in SoCal, in the big plastic kiddie pool in our tiny SoCal backyard.

Now I am 21, he is 18, and he will be attending university next fall. That doesn't even make sense to me. Really, now. I feel like when I went to college, he just kinda stagnated. It feels like he's been in high school for EVER, and that I've only been at CMU for the blink of an eye.

Life goes by so quickly and I was so amazed at the person that my brother became when I wasn't looking. He is handsome (practically a ladykiller), classy, and very intelligent. But more than any of these things, he has grown into a young man whom I am proud to say is my brother. He is polite, courteous, but most of all, loving. He has a heart for the world, and he lives his life for Christ. It's something really refreshing to see in a young man -- someone not so scrupulous, but on fire in his faith. It's heartwarming, and encouraging for me.

And now I'm getting a little teary-eyed because, goshdarnit, I am so proud of who he is.

And the thing is -- he did it without me around at all. It's kinda sad that I didn't get to witness it.

*sigh*

I only got to see the "end result"

Of course, only an intermediary end. All things are temporal and he will continue to grow and he will become a great man and maybe a father and a husband, maybe a priest, maybe a single dude, I dunno. I don't know what he's called to. But either way, I know he will be a great man.

Love you, baby brother.

~~

so these pictures are from my brother's Baccalaureate Mass. It was a beautiful service -- not my style, but still very reverent and a great joy to be a part of.

sweater: Tulle, pocketwatch: via Modcloth, skirt: thrifted, tights: Target, shoes: Lifestride via FF, belt: vintage, jacket: BB Dakota via Jupe

i AM Mary Poppins incarnate, after all...

Today was frabjous. After being down for so many days it's a relief to finally feel like I'm on the upswing. I got to wear one of my all-time favorite skirts, have a blast with the boys today, and best of all, as I mentioned in my prior post, it is Kyle's and mine one monthiversary. :P

which means I got flowers and extra calls and prayers from my doting beau. he's wonderful, really.

But today my experience with the boys was just grand! The youngest was very well-behaved in the morning. We played trains and cars and even pretend supermarket this time. It was wonderful. After lunch and his nap, we picked up his brothers and we went to get frozen yogurt. From there we went to the park. I swear, these boys have great arms on them -- they are FANTASTIC at throwing a disc (frisbee for the less haughty among us :P). They throw straight and flat and right to the target 9 out of 10 times. I swear, they have the makings of great ultimate players someday!

To go with my frabjous day, I wore a great conglomeration of clothing -- all fit for only the best -- Mary Poppins!

You can probably see my nanny-ness showing in this one outfit though... hehe!

shirt: Tulle, skirt: thrifted, sweater: Gap, hat: vintage via Eons (Pittsburgh), pearls: thrifted

Just out of curiousity, what is your take on childcare?

I love my job as a nanny, but have since learned through the experience that I want nothing more than to stay at home, take care of my children, and teach them if possible. I really do love children and I find the home environment to be the healthiest (in a stable, loving Catholic household anyway) of the options. After mother/father care, though, I have a ranking for how i best see the childcare options that society offers us today...

1. Mother/father care

2. Close relative care

3. in-home Nanny care/close family friend care -- (tied)

4. in-home (as in a daycare in a home, not your home necessarily) Daycare

5. pre-school/daycare

6. extended day is horrid, so it goes last.

And though I don't necessarily think that the wife should stay home and watch her children, it is true that having a parent around is beneficial for children, and really reflects love and sacrifice on the part of the family. My Daddy watched me growing up, was a stay-at-home dad, and it was what worked best for our family. It means that I have a phenomenal relationship with my father, and I realize the sacrifice both my parents made for that living situation to be so (my dad to sacrifice the "manly" thing of "bringing home the bacon," my mom to sacrifice "mothering" us on a day-to-day, hour-by-hour basis, which I know she would have loved to do). You'll probably notice that I put pre-school and daycare down pretty low. I know that sometimes, families do need two incomes (I think it's much rarer than what we currently have in society, but I do think there are situations...) or the mother wants to work, and I also think that's fine. But I do think that having the nurturing influence of someone who really loves and has a vested interest in the child is really important.

As a nanny, I love my job, but I hope that I never have to put my children in a situation where they might get confused and call a nanny "momma" (this has happened to me). I love taking care of children, and I think that my nanny position has given me great insight into the real world of motherhood. Not a whole LOT of insight, but a peek at least. And it's been enough for me to say and know that my position as a nanny is valuable to the family I work for, because I am loved by and I love their children, very much; however, I do hope to never have to do the same.

and i would cry all night if it weren't for kind words

wishing you were here somehow...

sometimes i deal with inadequacy -- feeling worthless and just downright like an abyss that everything just falls into hopelessly. It's sad when it happens, and I get tearful and depressed and I just don't want to see the world. but tonight, dear Kyle managed to help pull me out of that before I could fall too far. He lifted me out and reassured me, but set me on the right way gently, ever so gently, without hurting my poor frail self. (its hormones, i swear). i'm strong 28 days out of every 32, i swear.

it was so the opposite of how this day went though -- i was so upbeat and the 3 boys were great today and i even got my reading done for the Kant paper. my outfit was rockin and i was feeling on top of the world. then i had to go and bring up stuff. and my self-conscious nature related to stuff. goodness. why in the world do i do that?

long distance is tough but its not too much to fret over. its been about... 18 days since i last saw Kyle... so I can't complain too much. or at all, really. it's only hard when i cry.

it's then that i really need someone to just hold me and tell me it'll be alright.

and right now i have to pretend to be held.

though his words do a pretty good job... for now.

*sigh*

i'm being such a downer, i really am sorry bout that.

now lets post outfit pics because my outfit pics from today were happy and joyful and tons of fun to take. loved my outfit today -- it felt like a mix of "The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya" + "Austin Powers" + "The Network" all at once. it was fabulous.

floss?

brush-a-brush-a!

"what we try to do every night, Pinky... we're going to take over the world!!"

::strike a pose::

bow headpiece: handmade, corduroy jacket: Tulle, rainbow minidress: vintage handmade via Etsy, leggings: Sidecca, boots: via ebay, belt: vintage, "mirrorball" necklace: found in Rome -- Fossil I believe, heart necklace: Target

trains, planes and automobiles!

So if you didn't know, i am nannying this summer -- i watch 3 boys, 4 days per week for 8 hours a day. But until the older 2 are out of school, I have just the 3 year old during the day. :)

And today, we played with his trains, his airplanes, and his automobiles. The kid has a great imagination and is always looking for ways to get his mobiles mobile. I love helping him and watching him interact after I'm done setting up whatever track or building he wants me to help with. He really is such a wonder to behold -- imagination is so absolutely beautiful!!!

And as I was playing with all 3 of the boys after school today, as I was romping through the sand volleyball courts and throwing a disc with the middle boy, my phone rang. I answered it to my wet and disheartened boyfriend who had a flat tire in the middle of Montana, shortly after dropping off his friend and traveling partner in Helena. So sad story of the automobile ~

but all in all, today was a great day, sunny outside in the latter part, which makes for a very happy Aimee. I think this outfit rather fittingly reflects today's mood as well -- and don't you think it would make a splendid traveling outfit?

dress: gizzy denim via modcloth, belt: vintage, skirt: thrifted, owl necklace: Tulle, leaf cuff: F21, hat: Kimchi Blue, shoes: lifestride for FF

"you could be a part time model"

So recently i re-discovered the musical and comedic genius that is The Flight of the Conchords. Bret and Jemaine are just dreadfully wonderful, their humour is fantastic, and they have musical skills to match their looks: awkward, goofy, yet suprisingly seductive. :P

take for example this brilliant song~

I pulled out this song for a friend of mine who helped us out and modeled for Second Stitch earlier in the week, isn't she beautiful?!

alysia finger in 3PT, photo © Second Stitch Limited, 2010

So i guess you could see where the inspiration came from with the song and everything, perhaps?

anyway, so i have been photographing randomly, i love todays outfit but i have yet to take outfit pics today. so instead i'll post pics that kinda go with todays mood -- i'm a little down (i blame hormones), but its kinda a beautiful sad today. so these pictures, though not from today, do represent today's mood rather well.

skirt: vintage, shoes: lifestride for FF, jacket: Tulle, blouse: f21, tank: sidecca, tights: target, owl necklace: Tulle, headpiece: handmade by myself

THOUGH --yeahhh... i did start taking fish oil for my depression (its mild, and i don't think anything that would need more severe medication for) so we'll see if it works out! I am very hopeful, because its supposed to be a great "home" remedy for depression and the sort. Also started taking some vitamins in hopes that maybe it will help me start on a healthier daily regimen.

here's to hoping for sunny skies in my mental view!

an apology~

Hiya lovely followers and friends~

I write with the deepest sincerity, please know that.

I wanted to apologize for my infrequent posting and the hiatus that I took for far too long. My camera has died, my time has been monopolized, and I haven't had much time to think about fashion, much less write a blog about it.

So I apologize. And I also would like to say that I hope to be posting about many different things in the coming days -- from my excursions around California during my summer, to music i love to movies i'll see to yummy foods to eat! Also, you may be able to expect a small smattering of fun other things like posts about my faith, feminism, or fun finds... who knows! I want to be more active on this blog, as this is where people follow me more. This one's just so much more fun, too!

So please bear with me as I pull this back together and hopefully get this off the ground. :)

And maybe when I get Leopard running on this computer I can finally get CS3 running so I can get Photoshop and Illustrator working again.

ANYWAY!

So today I wore a lovely outfit to Mass ~ complete with a white Easter bonnet for the spring season. As you may eventually notice, I have a new penchant for hats, and have purchased a good fair amount to wear to parties... around.... or whathaveyou. ;)

Skirt: vintage via Etsy, shirt: Tulle4Us, shoes: LifeStride via Famous Footwear, hat: Target

i know its cheap and the labels aren't really anything to croon over (except maybe the Tulle, love Tulle), but its so adorable and really, when it looks good, who cares about the labels, right?

OH MY GOSH ITS BEEN FOREVER

I know I know I'm horrible and I need to be flogged. But I guess I kinda fell out of it for a bit -- schoolwork ate my life and well --- its still eating my life but I really wanted to post some pics of Halloween! :)

Unknowingly, I did basically the same costume idea as Tavi, lookie she's a creepy doll too, but we did it two different ways which was nifty. : *



I also considered that perhaps the outfit could have been a version of the White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland -- the big bow as ears, and I had a beautiful pocket watch, and a white dress. Not unlike the rabbit, eh?

(Un)fortunately, the party I went to was easily designated as a "not cute" party, so I upped the creepy level by drawing cracks on my face as a broken porcelain doll. Nice. ;)