Diane von Furstenberg (and some label rantings)

I was lucky enough to grow up with two parents who are fancy pants and I have always loved to look at beautiful clothes. I really do believe that clothing makes the man...(and of course ....the woman). I love how it sets the scene and have always loved costume design. I used to be in charge of the costumes in high school drama and at one point had a dream of even being a designer...(Wells Fargo won that dream battle...hmmmmm)So...I must be an expert right?!

My favorite rule of clothing is to ask yourself...can I wear it in 10 years?...15 years?...50 years? I love classic looks. Looks that accent a woman's curves. The whole waif, pin thin, baggy, shapeless thing has never been a look I have cared for nor have I ever desired that look. Ummm..which is good because I have always sported some pretty mean curves so waif...ha...is not really something I could go for anyway. I don't like scruffy anything, man-anything, (except a man's dress shirt...and well...not in public *wink*). I think tennis shoes look best in the gym and as much as I love the look of athletic somethings (wish I could pull that off) or even the ever adorable Converse...I have yet to ever feel comfortable in any of those things in public.

I love bright colors. I don't typically wear shoes that are not bright colors. I have also embraced my love of mixing brights. I think leopard print goes with almost everything. I love dark jeans and I have never appreciated the worn denim look. I wrinkle my nose at denim with holes in it. Cardigans rule my closet and I am a sucker for nautical stripes. Giant vintage rings are my favorite, I love gold jewelry and of course a pair of pearl earrings.

I will say...I do tend to wear flip flops...a lot and they are my slouchiest and most loved footwear choice. I always end up paying a big price after the warm months because my feet do not want to re-adapt to heels again.

So really this wasn't meant to be a post about MY fashion rules or taste and I am not really a big label person. Don't get me wrong...I love some of the classic designers and some new designers are completely inspiring and I still love Vogue like nothing else but I think that the industry is out of control and I DO believe in paying for quality clothing...BUT when you end up paying a fortune for a plastic flower ring because it is from Chanel...well...I think it's pretty ridiculous. That's when it's no longer about the art and design and quality...it is literally about a label.
(I know...soapbox...soapbox...but seriously...a Chanel suit is timeless...but those Chanel logo earrings...or the plastic resin flower ring...sorry kids...not timeless...in fact...logo=branding and I never want to be branded. Okay...so I get it...I am a total hypocrite...because I realize that I am wearing brands on a constant basis and my love for those famous red-soled shoes is NOTHING but a fantastic form of branding...but you know...this is MY blog and no one reads this and I can think whatever I want. So there..)

Wait...okay this post is titled Diane von Furstenberg right?! I know I COMPLETELY digressed...I meant it to be a quick..."look at the pretty clothes"... post. Alright...I will wrap this up..(get it??!...Diane von Furstenberg joke). I love Diane von Furstenberg. Her fall line has released and it's beautiful. She always has such stunning dresses. Her classic wrap dresses are so flattering and sexy. These are dresses I am dreaming of and in reality...are pretty affordable for a "designer" label. Here are two of my favorites...

Have you seen...

The Fall...

It's probably my favorite movie. I actually love this movie so much that it has taken me forever to post a blog entry on it because I don't really know what to say...except..it's my fav...I looooove it...I heart it...it's lovely.

Tarsem Singh directed this movie. He's one of those amazing people that I would give a million dollars to peek into his head. Throughout the movie I found myself gasping at how stunning each scene was.

The story line is wonderful and classic. A dashing silent film cowboy movie star is in a hospital...clearly feeling sorry for himself...after what must have been a terrible accident. He meets the world's most adorable little girl (seriously...this kid is so delightful) and they form a wonderful friendship while she begs him to tell her a story, which of course he does, and we see that story unfold in the movie through this little girl's imagination. (I love that he tells her a story of Cowboys and Indians and she envisions an Indian from India...)

It's lovely...it makes me cry...it makes me laugh...and I swoon at the color and magic of this movie.

Did I say it's lovely?

Add it to the list....

So...I was thinking the other day how many things I would still have if my dog had not chewed and destroyed *fill in the blank*. Shoes...(oh the shoes)...two pairs of Reef thongs..multiple pairs of heels (including my favorite brown ones)...my favorite black flats...purple ones...pink ones (man I forgot about those). Two pairs of glasses including some VERY expensive practically brand new Calvin Klein ones...jewelry...Christmas decorations (she annihilated a Santa-horrible Santa carnage all around my apartment)...makeup...and don't get me started on the bras and underwear...my dog has a serious taste for expensive undergarments. Yes...yes...put it where she can't get it and she won't chew it up. Well...she is very tricky...veeeery tricky...case in point what happened below...

The latest thing to add to that list is a practically full pot of Tokyo-Milk lip gloss. I keep it on my bed stand and last night when I reached for it...I noticed it was gone. Poppy looked at me almost reading my mind and slipped right under the bed to hide from me-I didn't even get out a groan and she was gone. I looked for it and did not find it...until today.

My dog managed to open a screwed on pot of lip gloss...leaving hardly a trace of pup trickery.

She licked it clean. Unreal. She must have the softest dog lips in town.

The only evidence of dog break-in...

*sigh*

Dad's Oregon Strawberry Tart

Father's Day this year was really fun! Mom, Katie and I cooked up a yummy Carne Asada dinner for Dad. We also had my Aunt Barb visiting which was so fun! I love it when Barb visits. She has one of those great laughs and I love catching up with her. Of course my fantastic and adorable nephews were there and it was such a fun dinner!

It was a really nice day and all about Dad as he was surrounded by gabbing women, giggling Judah and crazy Noah. I think in reality my brother in-law had it right as he stayed home watching sports and relishing in the silence that is well...an empty house.

Oh and for dessert I made an orange custard strawberry tart with a toasted almond crust. It was pretty yummy. Julia would have been proud...although..I must admit...I did have to cook the custard filling twice. The first time I didn't cook it long enough so it didn't get thick enough and then when I was cooking the crust at some random point I turned the oven off and when the buzzer went off I had a luke-warm thawed pastry dough. BUT...the custard and the crust were both very forgiving and it turned out pretty good. I wasn't planning on a strawberry tart but Oregon strawberries did NOT disappoint this year (I thought for sure that lack of sun would screw up the berries this year) and my Dad loves berries. I pretty much had to make a strawberry tart...oh and I thought my brother in-law Ethan was going to be there and I know he still regrets sharing that tart with the whole family when we were all in Rome-so I was thinking of him too. (Hope the sports and silence were worth it dude.)

Confession Session

Oh YOU and your Fu Manchu. I love passing you in the halls at work.

Please excuse me when I stare...and in my head say...oh Fu Manchu...Fu Manchu.

Rose City Til We Die!

Saturday night I had the pleasure of going to a Timbers game for the first time. It was OUT OF CONTROL fun! I went with my two girlfriends Katie and Jordan. We sat smack dab in the middle of the outrageous Timber's Army. I have never NEVER seen anything like it. The Timber's Army is the very appropriate name for the group of fans for the Portland Timbers. They are truly the most heartfelt, crazed group of people I have ever witnessed and they completely won me over. They occupy the North End of the PGE Park stadium and bring with them drums, horns, bells and loud LOUD voices as they sing at the top of their lungs throughout the entire game. When they score, flags, confetti and streamers fly! Everyone shows their support with a sea of green and waving their scarves that have NO PITY weaved in them.

Needless to say I loved every minute of it and Katie, Jordan and I stood on our feet along with the Timbers Army singing along the entire time.

Consider me enlisted.

Panna Cotta

One of my favorite treats is Panna Cotta. I made it for dessert for Memorial Day...topped with fresh cherries and candied almonds. After I made this I started brain-storming all the wonderful toppings you could put on top of this creamy treat.

Here are a few I thought of.

Brown-sugared bruleed figs
Strawberry and balsamic drizzle
Apricot compote with almond crumble topping
Lime curd with Toasted Coconut
Candied Pistachios

I also plan on experimenting with the base. Trying coconut milk and then all sorts of steeped milks. (Lavender, chilies, basil) Oh the possibilities are endless with this simple, elegant and oh so yummy dessert!!

Seattle

I just got back from a quick trip to Seattle. Sarah was in town with her cute friend Ali and we all hopped in the car and took a trip to Seattle. It was all the girls and little Jude. It was a great trip and the weather could not have been more wonderful. It was so beautiful. I discovered some new favorite stores in Seattle with amazing local art. It is this great group of three stores on 2nd Ave. Schmancy, Nancy and Fancy. The first store was full of these amazing homemade toys, the second had awesome ceramics, and the third was gorgeous artisan jewelry. We hit up all the fun places to show Ali Seattle and I had a great time with my mom, sisters, Jude and Ali. We made it home after two full days with some sore feet and some beautiful pictures.



Oh these delicious donuts are a must have every time.




How great are these yarn beards! I need one for hockey season.



Tired after that first night. I was the fuddy duddy who went to bed early...I'm gettin' old.

Window Shopping...*sigh*

I am pretty obsessed with the following things as I window shop online...oh dreamy dreamy...good thing I don't have major amounts of disposable income at my hands...what would I dream about owning one day?!...Who am I kidding...I'll take the disposable income and every single thing on this list...I am a very big dreamer and can find other things to dream of...I can be super creative like that.

(Oh lovely rug...you belong in my room)

(I want to put something green in you)

(Aren't you just so bright scarf...my neck wants to show you off)

(I try you on every time I go to Twist...those grooves...hurt so good when I push you over my hand...)

(I must own you....adorable pink flip flops...)

(and you too...)

(Every one of your beautiful hard cover classics is just so pretty...I will start with this one...then Cranford...oh and Treasure Island...Wurthing Heights...)

(...!...oh mother of ruby...!....)