Goin' to the Game

SO, in a twist of fate, I, perhaps the least knowledgeable football aficionado in the United States, am going to my second professional football game this season! To be honest I am looking forward mostly to the wonderfully sinful food and drink which comes hand-in-hand with this fabulous fall sport, as well as hanging out with friends.

Here are a few items I am looking forward to eating at the game:





What are some of your favorite Philly eats? Have any suggestions as to what I should bring to the tailgate? I'm thinking of making a Seven Layer Dip and maybe carting along some wings and things. Any and all ideas will be appreciated!

What should I wear to keep my little tush warm, be comfy, and look cute, all while supporting the Eagles? (It's supposed to be in the mid-fourties during the game) Any tricks you can suggest would certainly be welcome.

Oh yea- and Lets Go Eagles!!!!!!

I'm Back, and Better than Ever

A few people have asked me why I stopped writing here, and I really don't have a great reason as to why, so I decided to begin writing on my blog again.

I do have a few excuses: The boy andI just moved into a brand new house, and the last month has been full of move-in havoc. Also, my grandfather recently became sick and I spent a lot of his last days with him, and with my family. Lastly, I have just been lazy with writing as a whole, and focused on a lot of random tasks rather than this wonderful outlet/career path.

One way I have decided to force myself back into the grind is via National Novel Writing Month- a contest wherein you sign up and pledge to write a novel for a month straight- once you have reached 50,000 words- you win. Basically it will be my kick in the a** to finish my novel which has been sitting on the back burner, to make writing a priority again, and to hopefully make it fun. If you want to learn more about the NaNoWriMo movement, check out their website: http://www.nanowrimo.org/

Also, I feel as though you need some things to look at, so here are a few pictures of our new surroundings:





(our new home is going to be much more conducive to writing)

Re-Branding of USPS

Designer Matt Chase's conceptual redesign for the U.S.P.S. brand swept through the design blogosphere on Monday. I realize this means I am a bit behind (but what else is new?). I wanted to provide you with some highlights in case you missed it.



Although I am sort of in love with the 50's flair, I do feel like it is a bit much. . . More like something a teacher would create for her Back to School Bulletin Board, it's a bit kitschy. . . Frankly, the thing I love the most are all the stamp designs, how precious are all of the little postal pigeons?! I love, love, love vintage/out-of the ordinary stamps.

In any case, I doubt this re-branding will actually take hold, but it is fun to look through all of the mock-ups (see my previous link for more).

What are your thoughts?

((all photos compliments of behance network)

One Family, Thirty Years

Just found this and love it.

One Family, Thirty Years

UM

There is a skunk the size of a small dog in our garage. I repeat: there is a skunk in our garage.

Boy (matter-of-factly): There is a skunk in our garage.

Me (as if you just told me I had the plague): WHAT?!

Boy (still calm): There is a skunk in our garage.

Me (not fooled by his reverie): We should call animal control

Boy (smiling): Nah, he's fine. Come look at it.

Me (not smiling): WHAT?

Boy (as if he is asking me to observe a cuddly kitten): Come on, look at it, it's hiding.

Me (loosing my mind for a second): Okay.

And so I looked, but I didn't see it right away and I refuse to go any closer to the entrance of our detached garage than 10 feet, so the skunk can remain hiding until The Boy allows me to call animal control.

I will keep you updated.

Hey

Hi there, y'all.

Sorry I haven't written in quite awhile. My grandfather has been in the hospital, so, the time I usually devote to this blog, mornings and early afternoons, have been spent beside he and the rest of my family instead.

Things are looking up for Poppy, so, I should be writing more regularly in a short while.

xo.

Beauty/Fashion: Why do I care?

Why is it that we are all so vain? Part of me hates the part of me that cares about how I look. Part of me hates the part of me that decides not to do my hair or makeup, and just go au naturale.

Let's discuss. Most days, I decide to let my hair air-dry, I forgo all makeup and I wear what feels comfortable and yet appealing. I frankly hate having to get ready- because getting ready means not only buying in to the idea that in order to be beautiful one must be mainstream, but also because it is a pain in the ass. So, for years, while friends and co-workers don their 30-minute to an hour's worth of product, I generally opted for some lip gloss and a coat of mascara. While people spent their mornings trying on various outfits I put on whatever felt right. If you ask my college roommates they would tell you that would mean a pair of ripped jeans, my favorite O.A.R. t-shirt, and flip-flops. Flip flops, in fact were worn even in the winters of North-western Pennsylvania, unless there was snow-- but I digress. Even today, I tend to go for comfortable clothing over form-fitting va-va-voom outfits.



There have been, especially more recently, times in my life when I did give a damn about my appearance. Most formal occasions, for example. On holidays and weddings, my sister is delegated to putting on my makeup, an arduous task, because I frankly look like a monkey when it comes to putting on my own face, and she is generally embarrassed of my attempts (think:tons of various blushes, concealers and moisturizers open, as I shakily put eyeliner everywhere on my eyelid but the proper place). So, I stick to my mascara and lip gloss, but stare at counters fully of beautifully packaged beauty products longingly and wonder if I can be taught to put it on. . . Then I suddenly feel silly- why do I need all that gook?

Admittedly, once I graduated from college and got out in the real world- I had a bit of money and began to pay attention to fashion- I liked looking polished and a bit more put together, and then I liked following fashion even more closely, and now it has hit an apex, wherein I spend hours staring at the latest new thing, read my Vogue hungrily, and lean close to the point of self-destruction when I realize I do not have the money to buy half of the crap I long to have. Just now, I spent an hour online staring at the new Fall Fashion Trends for this year on net-a-porter.com and added about 50 unnecessary items to my wish list. What has happened to me?


Now, I think maybe I'm being a little bit hard on myself: Is it bad for me to want to look good, to take an interest in my appearance? no. Does it mean I think that appearances are all that matters? no. Do I judge others on their appearance? no, not really, unless I meet them in a dark alley I don't tend to make snap judgments about people. Can someone be independent, free-thinking, and feminist-leaning and still care about their appearance? I think so. Or is it that I am being beaten-down by all the media hype as to who I should be and what I should care about, making me really not as independent, free-thinking and feminist-leaning as I thought? mm, I hope not.

There, now I feel better. Sort of.



In any case, all this really started rolling around in my head after I read this interesting article from The New York Times on French Women's Secrets to Aging Well- and then wondering what really drew me to the article i.e. Why am I worried about aging when I am in my late 20's? Should I really care this much now? At least the French may have it right- age gracefully, proudly showing your age but maintaining Style and Dignity.


Comments? Questions? Concerns?

P.S. What do you think of this romper? Too Much?