What do you mean I should be a size 2?!

Reading Jen's post about the bands that look alike sparked my dormant imagination :)
       
      2 days ago in Hollister with my best friend
walking in to the faux beach hut store front I am attacked by a cloud of overly expensive tacky perfume, not to mention the dizzying sight of 1,000 half naked guys. we are greeted warmly by an employee who looks like he stepped off of a magazine cover (I wonder where they keep the un-airbrushed people?) but he moves on quickly to the next customer who is already outfitted in enough labels to be compensated for advertising. dark lighting and ear splitting music dont make it a very pleasant shopping experience; after 10 minutes I'm willing to spend any amount of money to just get out of there. the clothing on display comes in 2 sizes- small and smaller. I don't know any 00's but these people sure do; maybe the super thin people only live in southern California?
********************************************************************************
my friend is a healthy size 4 but at the end of the ordeal even she felt fat and frumpy. so what are these mega companies trying to say? that if you aren't 95lbs and 5'9 you aren't pretty? Stylish? marginally cool? so what! i would rather be a tacky, ugly individual than a blond, plastic clone!

the joy formidable

I've become an avid reader of NYLON magazine...
in the March 2011 issue there is a feature on the Welsh trio, The Joy Formidable. I'm totally hooked on their steady beats and iridescent vocals. They are definitely worth checking out :)

Narnia

Oh my gosh things have been crazy! I started a new semester and its going really well! Here is my schedule:
Mod 1- Algebra
Mod 2- Government
Mod 3- Chemistry
Mod 4- GP Literature 
I have first lunch though (11:00-11:30) which is a change from last semester when I had second lunch (11:30-12:00) I liked second lunch better but I'm so glad that I have a lot of friends in first lunch! Algebra is ok, Government is my favorite, Chemistry is awesome and GP lit is ok. I usually love English but our English teacher makes us fall asleep. Her voice is a lullaby!
I have to apologize for the lack of posting. I have been feeling uninspired/the winter blues. :(
But this weekend was wonderfully blog worthy. 
Friday night Mom, Steve and I went to Steve's mothers house for dinner with his sister and her assorted hangers on, ie. 4 children, oldests' boyfriend, ex husband and current husband. That makes for a crowded dinner table.
Saturday we saw the Illusionist at the Bethesda Row cinema. (Steve loves going to the movies. we would go to the movies every night if we hadn't already seen everything.) I thought it was really sad but everyone else thought it was beautiful. It was but it was still really sad! I just discovered that there is a crepe stand outside of the theater. You must understand that if it were possible, crepes and I would be an item. We also made more CUPCAKES! This time they required an adventurous trip to Wegmans in search of agar flakes. Agar flakes are a seaweed used as a vegan thickener. Sounds gross but the cupcakes were really good.
Sunday was superb. One of the grad students who lives upstairs, Ginny, found this amazing park. Its hidden away between two houses and you can't hardly find it unless you aren't looking, earning it the nickname, Narnia. There are swings and a place to have a picnic. It really is like your own magical secret garden. I will have to take you a picture the next time I am there, but as promised this is a no picture post.
So how was your weekend? I can't expect you to sit and listen to me without me listening to you.

Happy Blogging everyone!

confessions and obsessions

All right, I must confess a few guilty pleasures
1. Reality TV
2. Trashy magazines
3. large doses of caffeine (so not a secret)
There are more: donuts anyone? But the subject of this post is far more user friendly.

Yes its true that even the best of us bloggers fall prey to the fashionable clutches of Gossip Girl. Who else could rock a school uniform the way these girls do?

                                                    

She may not be a Gossip Girl, but who can forget Rory Gilmore's Chilton years?

 Or the Britney themed Glee episode

So maybe we all have a secret obsession with the classic Good girl/Bad girl plaid skirt thing. 

I know this is mainly a picture post so there will definitely be more writing next time.

Valete!

Musings of a reluctant vegan aka. a foodie post

My moms boyfriend is on a vegan kick, so now its all vegan all the time. In support of his efforts mom and I made vegan CUPCAKES! Who knew that the cupcake would have such a healthy alter ego? Well, relatively healthy.... Anyway here they are:

 They are banana with a butter cream frosting and toasted coconut   

The icing was a little funky because it had soy milk but overall they were really good!

I cant wait to make the Cappuccino cupcakes with Espresso creme. If you haven't already figured out, I'm a giant coffee lover.

Last night was a strange adventure. We were going to the Du Burns Arena to see the Charm City Roller Girls season opener. (Roller Derby is a contact sport played on roller skates) BUT THEY WERE SOLD OUT! So we ended up watching from outside with a great commentary from the woman next to us. Then we headed to Sofi's Crepes for a crepe and a coffee and jetted to the Charles to see

I highly recommend that you see it!

So why the food post? Fashion and food operate on the same principles- its all about the passion. Designers and Chefs both put their hearts and souls into what they do.

Ok, profound moment over, you can stop rolling your eyes

for your amusement

  I watched the Mask of Zorro today, the one with Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta Jones. I must say I was blown away by the costumes, there was a sensuality and beauty to them. It's a combination of one part strength and two parts passion that I wish we saw more in modern fashion.

Some of Elena's best looks:

this is beautiful because it combines frothiness and functionality

the white puffy sleeves are set off by the short vest and waist belt

only Catherine Zeta Jones could make a bathrobe look sexy

her dance dress is magical

watch the video and see for yourself

 Designer Pineda Covalin captures that elusive easy grace and passion of the movie

No school!

The weather gods are screwing with my life! I cant take another day stuck in the house after the mono fiasco and now we have a semi blizzard! Not to mention how much that screws up finals. But on the bright side I finally have time to post. :)

I'm in a sweater mood that I just cant shake. Maybe its the freeze your but of temperature.

 hand knitted sweater (by my grandma)

hand me down plaid wool skirt

moms old boots

same sweater

hair bow from 5 Below

black and white makes things seem so much better :)

I was looking around for more sweater options and I found these:

    mens Gucci vintage cardigan    

this one I would do with leggings and ankle boots

Prada fall 2010

this one with a tailored trouser and flats

Lillith asymmetrical

this one with a long skirt and riding boots or over a bathing suit

Sorry/Finals Week!

I'm sorry for not posting when I said I would. (sad little puppy face) Can you ever forgive me? of course you can! As you can guess its finals week and I have 3 more tests to go. On Friday there will be more amazment because I will be done! But for now just updates to know that I'm alive. ;)

Sleep

Im sorry for posting so late but as usual I'm pulling a semi all nighter. You would think I might know better becuase I have to get up at 6:05 tomorrow. But as usual I'm giving in to my night owl tendencies. I have to appologize for the suckiness of the picures, my camera is on the fritz.

I tried belting a hand me down wool sweater and  ended up with a very bunchy, scratchy top. The skirt is just a little off, but I'm working on it. I promise more tomorrow, something grand, so hang on to your hats kids!

Meet and Greet

I realized that I never did a proper 'about me' post. Well here we go....
    I have always liked fashion and wanted to share my particular strain of peculiar. I am half 'country girl' and half 'inside the beltway chick.' Starbucks is my home away from home. I prefer Vanilla Lattes and Mochas. Favorite passtimes include surfing the web, yoga, rock climbing, biking, hanging with friends and blogging. My style is influenced by people watching and functionality. My favorite place to people watch is on the metro, hence the name tube24. I like doing theme posts so if you want to see anything, let me know. :)

Wonders of the Weekend!!!!

Hola! I'm feeling upbeat today :) And what is better to blog about than jewelery? 

my poor overworked jewelery box



hand me down necklace



Gummy Bear necklace I got for Christmas



Evil  Eye necklace from Greece



super fun necklace from France
(wore it while sipping an espresso and felt very European)



hand made glass bracelet from my aunt



small selection of many pairs of earrings



banned books pin from Franklin's in Hyattsville
 http://www.franklinsbrewery.com/the-store/



bangles! a personal favorite of mine :)
(bought to go with my homecoming dress)

I'm always looking to update my collection. If you have any suggestions, let me know!

Some of my favorite Betsey Johnson pieces!

ER LEO CRY CWRN HEART earrings

IC BR CRY TOGGLE bracelet

PEARL ILLUSION DRESS necklace

FABRIC BOW RING WITH STONES 

LARGE OWL necklace

A special section for my current jewelery inspiration, Amrita Singh

Gabrielle bangles

Sunflower-Pearl earrings

Ritona bracelet

Della-Femina-Ring

See you all tomorrow!

Genius Idea!!!!

I cant draw to save my life but this didnt turn out so bad :)

the product of my boredom

im thinking maybe a belt would help...or some color...too bad those pesky crayons are at home ;)

 these shoes embody todays theme
Mr. Louboutin, I thank you for your genius


I feel bad leaving my friends at school hanging, but why waste one more sick day? Playing office assistant for the day has a certain appeal. I have now mastered the "run and get lunch" task. At least I have the time to put my thoughts here :) 

Feeling inspired by...

Hello Hello!

Bonjour! welcome to my corner of the universe...... 
     I'm having a style revolution. I'm upending all that I ever knew about fashion and starting over. And blogging about it. You lovely people have a ring side seat so hang on and enjoy the ride!