February 28, 2009

Oh the places you'll go...

It's very hard for me to take outfit pictures between my drab school uniform and my lack of camera, so instead I've decided to share some pics from last summer. After an opne mic night at my school where a bunch of my friends sang and played instruments we went to a hookah place to hang out and of course smoke hookah. Hookah always reminds me of the summer I spent in Israel, so I thought now would be a nice time to share some pictures.

 
 
   

It was such an amazing experience. The entire country is beautiful and far more than one would expect. It is nothing like the news depicts it, and the most important thing I learnt that despite what one hears on the television, the entire Israel population does not feel one way about anything. I went to Isreal with a teen group which was great, and we were also joined by Israeli councilors and two Israeli teens. I was surprised to hear Israelis argue about everything from the Gay Pride parades in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem to the appropriate response to the Israel/Palestine conflict. I think the most important thing while traveling is to talk to people who actually live in these countries, and learn not only what the country is by means of museums and landmarks, but also its personality.

February 25, 2009

American Girl

Today sucked. I just woke up on the wrong side of the bed, 40 minutes late, and had to get ready in about 10 minutes. I didn't have time to put makeup on, and my outfit was a mess. At times I find the monotony of a school uniform kind of depressing, but I mitigate that with my personal style. Today I just didn't have time to pick out an outfit and somehow ended up in a khaki kilt with a purple t shirt under a navy polo topped off with a long burgundy cardigan and my grey uggs. Not a great look.

By the end of the day I felt a little better and it was almost warm out when I left school. I can't wait for summer, filled with cotton dresses, outdoor music festivals, and days by the pool. To fill in this fantasy I've been doing a lot of online browsing. While flipping through various sights spring lines I was surprised to see all the new clothes at American Eagle. They must have gotten a new fashion director or something because the clothes are surprisingly trendy and cute!

Here are some of the pieces I'm impressed by:

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February 23, 2009

Free the Slaves

I would like to thank everyone so much for all taking time to look at my blog. All of your lovely comments make me so happy. I never expected to get over 20 comments on one post!

Last night while watching the Oscars I was so impressed by the few who took their victories as an opportunity to speak out about injustices, like Dustin Black who won for "Best Original Screen Play" with his screen play for Milk, and took his 90 seconds of air time to speak on behalf of the gay community.

Following Black's example, I would like to speak out about something important to me, while I have all of your attention: modern slavery.


Sex slavery, domestic slavery, and agricultural slavery are the most previlent forms of slavery in the U.S.

I became aware of this issue a few years ago after hearing a lecture done by a former child slave. I was surprised to find out that there are around 27 million people enslaved all around the world today. After becoming aware of this oppression I made it my mission to find a speaker to talk on this subject to my high school. Today Ron Soodalter, who's second book The Slave Next Door spoke about the thousands of people enslaved in the United States today.

I had worked very hard to secure a speaker for my school, and was so thrilled when Ron's speech was everything and more than what I could have hoped for!

I hope you all take time to check out this website: Freetheslaves.net, and spend some time educating yourselves. This issue is so much more than any of us could even imagine, and the first step to ending the problem, is education.

Thank you.

[image courtesy of Palm Beach Post]

February 22, 2009

This is math I can do.





cardigan: BCBG; sweater: kensie girl; jeans: found denim; shoes: keds

Many of my friends are jealous that I have removed math from my schedule this year, and while I live in a relatively arithmetic free world now, I haven't quite removed geometry from my life. I've really been attracted to all the geometric prints this season. Today I wore a grey sweater featuring a square design. The sweater itself reminds me of my Grammi who has decorated her apartment in the most mod of fashion, featuring white sofas, grey walls, and red pillows. Thats why this sweater seemed so great for meeting her for lunch.



Also, I picked up these booties the other day while shopping in Philadelphia. Surprisingly they're Keds! They're super comfortable and they sort of remind me of Chloe booties. I've been wearing them with everything from mini skirts to skinny jeans, and just love them!

February 21, 2009

BMX BTW FTW


titles are hard...






My dad surprised me yesterday with my birthday gift - a leather jacket! I had asked for one, and after showing him a few pictures, expected we'd go to the mall and I'd pick one out. I was really excited, because no one ever buys me gifts. For the longest time presents have been an opportunity for me to ask for something I wanted but wouldn't necessarily buy for myself, like boots, or a camera, or something kind of expensive. While I've liked everything I've received (I've picked it out of course) it doesn't exactly feel "gifty". Even my grandparents have resorted to giving me money - not the same as someone spending time, thinking of you, figuring you what you might like.

Thats why it was such a great surprise to get a jacket from my dad, a jacket I didn't pick out! The only issue is I can't tell whether or not I like it  because I like it or if I like it because it's a gift. I think I might ask for the receipt so that I can go to the store, check out all the other jackets, and make my mind up for myself. No, that isn't gifty anymore, but this is a big gift and I'd hate to have this expensive jacket that I stop liking.

Also, thank you to captivate me for this lovely award. It means to much to me to get all of this support as a new blog. All of your comments are equally meaningful to me. Thank you so much for anyone who takes time to read my humble little blog.

fabulous1

February 19, 2009

Seriously? Another Hello Kitty post?

Last one, I promise (well... I can't promise), but this was too good not to post about!

MAC has asked tons of amazing designers to do Hello Kitty inspired peices which are being auctioned off on ebay in order to raise money for the Museum of FIT. Charlotte Ronson, Elie Sabb, Hervé Léger, and Zac Posen are among the numerous designers involved in this project.

Here are some of my favorite creations:


Zac Posen, Elie Sabb, Sang Beg, Manish  Aurora, Su-Chin Huang, Dress 33

Katie Perry wore this Hello Kitty ensemble by the Blonds at the Brit Awards. For only $570 this bedazzled bustier can be yours!



What's cooking, good looking?

Sorry for the lack of posts recently. Sadly, my camera is unable to do anything but take blurry pictures which means mostly photobooth pictures which aren't that great.

Today after school I made kugel for "Multi Cultural Night" at school. Everyone has been invited to make food from their cultures, and for $10 there's all you can eat plus a movie! All the money raised will go to the American Cancer Society. Such a great cause!

Seriously I spent over 40 minutes creating Kugel - my favorite Jewish dish. It's my first try at making it and I hope it turns out alright. We didn't have enough sour cream so I added more cottage cheese...

For anyone who doesn't know Kugel (and I feel really bad for you if you don't) it's a sweet noodle casserole.


Here's the recipe:

1 lb noodles
2 cups milk
12 oz cottage cheese
1 bar soft cream cheese
1 pt. sour cream
1 cup sugar
6 eggs
vanilla
graham cracker crumbs
sugar/cinnamon

  •  Cook noodles
  • beat eggs separately, add 1 tsp vanilla to eggs
  • mix all other ingredients in with eegs and vanilla
  • combine noodles and mix
  • melt butter in casserole dish
  • pour mixture into pan - top with graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and cinnamon
  • Cook for 1 1/2 hours in an oven pre-heated to 350˙F
I hope you enjoy the recipe - and here's my housewife inspired attire, in honor of my recent domesticity.



derss: target; belt: h&m

February 16, 2009

Movies I saw

I hope everyone had a great holiday weekend - I know I did. My best friend came to visit yesterday and we had a great time wandering around the city, going in and out of boutiques, eating in yummy restaurants, and catching up.

I also saw two movies this weekend. 

Coroline is another Tim Burton movie, and unlike Corpse Bride I felt this lived up to the hype. It was creepy, imaginative, and beautiful. Me and my mom saw it in 3-D and it really was amazing. As a child I was so fascinated by the 3-D muppet attraction in Disney that I went to see it twice, and well, the gimmick still hasn't been lost on me. Every scene looked like a picture, the creativity behind the whole movie was truly inspiring. 


I also watched Kinky Boots which is the funny and endearing story of a shoe company trying to stay afloat. This movie combined three of my favorite things: shoes, accents, and drag queens. This British import had great emotional balance, with both highs and lows, and had very well developed characters that you truly fell in love with.
 
I might not be the best film critic, but I like movies, and I really enjoyed both of these films.

February 14, 2009

My Valentine: Hello Kitty



lipglass: (left) she loves candy, (right) sweet strawberry

lip conditioner: popster

lipstick: most popular

blush: tippy

My Hello Kitty by MAC stuff arrived on Friday and I couldn't have been more excited! I've been talking about this collection FOREVER! I love the colors, they're not all exactly what I was expecting, but the surprises just allowed me to step out of my comfort zone, and try some new things, which I love!

The lipstick is a beautiful raspberry color, and the lip conditioner is a really cute hot pink. It's much more pigmented than i expected! The blush is a nice hot pink - the only draw back is that I have to apply it very lightly or else I look like a 13 year old, allowed to wear makeup for the first time.

I wish I could take better pictures but I put my camera on the stairs for a minute, and it slipped 3 stairs onto concrete and since the focus has been a mess. Initially the lens wouldn't open, but I took an exact-o knife to the zoom lens to help smooth out the bumps. Now it makes loud noises when it opens or zooms, and can't focus picture.

If anyone has any recommendations for a good point and shoot camera I'd really appreciate it.

I will miss you Cannon Power Shot...

February 13, 2009

Prep School Rave

I went to a mixer with a few of my friends at another private school in the area. It was neon themed, which is a school approved way to say "Rave Themed." They gym was filled with black lights and strobe lights and about 500 kids.

 

shirt: american eagle; skirt: american apparel; belt: vintage; shoes: they're not free people but I bought them at the free people store

My bangs were such a mess, I've let them grown too long and I tried to cut them myself. I seriously need a real hair cut.

Before the dance tried on so many outfits with my friend Alaina (who is also responsible for these pictures) trying to find something "neon" in my wardrobe. Eventually I decided on this white on white outfit which would glow under black light, and the pink belt was a great pop of color. The pink heart I drew on my face was done with Kryolan makeup, its a sort of stage makeup that is formulated to glow under UV light! It looked really cool under the black light.

P.S. Happy Valentines Day everyone

February 12, 2009

Napoleon, Sanchez, and Mongiello

  

I found these pictures, take for Numero Korea Magazine by Sofia Sanchez and Mauro Mongiello, while browsing through one of my favorite fashion related websites FotoDecadent. They're amazing, and after spending more time on the sight I can't believe I had forgotten this website for so long. I was glad that I had re-explored my bookmarked websites the other day. The mix of Marie Antoinette and modern is eerie and beautiful.

Photography is a skill I'm really jealous of, but after a few altercations with the arrogant bitch of a photo teacher at school, and an unsuccessful photo class at a local arts college, I have resigned myself to staying an ammeter. 


February 10, 2009

Bad Kitty


  
dress: free people; scarf (around waist): vintage; shoes: neiman marcus outlet; headband: urban outfitters

Hello Kitty is officially out today! It is on the website and also in some stores. Along with the collection MAC released this video. I love the surreal Alice in Wonderland feel - seriously creepy!

Inspired by the video I put together my own Alice in Wonderland look. I think I want to wear this to my birthday party next month...


me and my kitty!

dress: free people; scarf (around waist): vintage; shoes: neiman marcus outlet; headband: urban outfitters