superman

I feel like the tangent I went on last week kind of burnt me out. I just haven't had a single thing to say lately. Sometimes I'm just too outspoken for my own good. I've decided to tag all posts where I go on long rants about society or the self with the tag "soapbox" so that they're easy to find in case anyone wants to quickly locate impromptu speeches written by a 19 year old girl. I had a teacher in high school who crafted himself a soapbox so that while he was lecturing, he could physically hop onto a platform whenever he was going to voice an opinion. He was a pretty cool teacher, to say the least. He messaged me on Facebook recently and asked if my tattoo was real and added on a "WOW!" when I confirmed that it was. I love having cool teachers. They seem far and few.   I had a design professor last semester who was the best professor I'd ever had at my university. It's because of her that I decided to change my major. I've had so many professors and teachers that just seem burnt out on their subject. It's hard to be interested in something when a teacher can barely even sound interested themselves. After I had this particular design professor last semester, I completely fell in love with design on a whole. I'm really hoping that I have some great classes this coming semester. School is so boring when the teachers are.   Speaking of school, I made this Superman shirt for a class my first (and only) semester of being an apparel design major. I put the plackets in wrong, but otherwise it is flawless. It has all different coloured buttons and is quite fantastic, if I do say so myself. I think I became known in that class for using crazy prints for all my garments. Oh well, it meant that everyone knew which shirt was mine!     I feel like my summer has taken a sudden turn to the unproductive. I haven't been getting much done since returning from Guatemala, mostly drinking coffee, watching "That '70s Show", and working. I really should make a "To Do" list and start pushing myself to get stuff done. I hate feeling unproductive and the summer is getting so close to an end - I can't believe tomorrow is the first day of August!   Also, remember to "like" Urban Tease on Facebook by clicking here! I've been posting some different articles, interviews, and blogs that I find interesting at the moment.

Mermaid Parade

Someone said I was losing my edge. Maybe it was the floral dress or the polka dots. Or maybe it was my 10 minute tangent on my love for Lady Di. Perhaps it was because I finally fessed up to liking poetry. Either way, I do not take kindly to losing my edge. Sure, I'll always be that girl who claims that Cat Stevens saved her life and who stock piles old copies of Teen Vogue in her bedroom. I'll never be that hard ass punk on the bus who makes you shake in your boots at the very thought of making accidental eye contact with. Curly hair isn't exactly uninviting and I usually have a smile on my face or in my eyes. But despite all this, I still like to think that I have spunk - a unique edge to my personality - that sets me apart from my peers. Let's face it: there're a lot of 19 year old girls out there (and a good lot of them probably have curly hair) who possess that youthful curiosity and longing that plagues all young people. We probably all have friends and like music. We probably all have secret crushes and grew up watching Mr. Rogers and Power Rangers. We're all stuck in that limbo between wanting to grow up and wanting to stay young forever. We've all cried and we've all laughed. So what's to set us apart?   I tend to think of myself as having a completely average life. I don't have any extraordinary skills and I haven't had many out-of-the-ordinary experiences. But yet, I've had people tell me that I am unique and they've never met anyone like me. It's always very humbling to hear something like that, but I often scratch my head and wonder what makes me so different?    When I was in Guatemala and living with three other girls close to my age who've had similar life experiences, I realised that I looked at everything completely different from the other three. They were often taken aback by the things I said and the things I did. I reacted different from anyone in the group - drastically different. I was the only one to say that our group was overstepping the line between playfulness and cattiness, but I was also the quickest to make judgements of people and it was indeed me who loudly said, "I hate people - they're slow & stupid" on a crowded airplane. I was much more opinionated and I tended to say what I thought, without thinking much about the consequences. This is me. This is how I am, but I never thought it made me unique or that it gave me edge. It just made me, me. Up until that trip, I don't think I ever fully realised that our perspectives on life are the only things that are 100% unique to ourselves. I used to think, "Oh, I watch old movies and listen to '70s folk music and oh ho ho ho that makes me soooo different from my peers!" But no. It really doesn't. The only thing that is entirely mine, the only thing that really, truly gives me edge is the way I look at and the way I respond the things around me. That's all there is.   I think I wore this outfit to symbolically point out that I have indeed not yet lost my edge. I can still stomp around in boots and wear leather, which gives me some edge, but it's still an edge that a few thousand other 19 year old girls probably share. Anyways, we all get it now, right?   I'm most excited to show off this new skirt. My auntie brought over a bag of clothes that she was going to send to Goodwill if I didn't make claim to them first. My aunt seemed to have been exactly my size when she was my age (maybe taller, though...everyone is taller than me, let's face it) because everything fit like a button. This is the same auntie who gifted me my favourite brown Nancy Drew shorts. Anyways, this skirt was in the pile of '70s vintage goodies that she sent over. At first, I shrugged it off thinking, "This isn't really my style" but when I put it on that night, I completely fell in love. It has such a soft, floaty, romantic hippie type of vibe to it. Plus, it has pockets. Who doesn't love pockets, seriously? I decided to toughen it up with some leather and make it more season-appropriate by knotting a lace shirt from American Apparel.   I am also wearing floral sunglasses that I made a few weeks ago and posted a tutorial for here. I decided something was missing, so I added the bowler hat. Whenever I wear this hat, I think back to the part in Sixteen Candles when Farmer Ted says that he loves a girl in a hat, it's so vogue. I think the hat and the sunnies added the perfect dose of '80s flair to the otherwise very '70s hippie-dippie outfit. I don't know if I'd be able to beat someone up in this, but at least I have some edge.   While I was taking these photos, I looked over and noticed that there was a guy sitting on his back step about 15 feet away, smoking a cigarette and watching me the whole time. I suppose it was bound to happen sooner or later... I just smiled and said hi and then fiddled with the camera until he finished his smoke and left. Whew, got that awkward social interaction done with for today. I still have work tonight, so I'm anticipating having to wade through about 100 more of them before hitting the pillow tonight.   I'm still blogging uncomfortably and awkwardly from another computer. I have to save all my files as .png so I'm sorry if they're taking longer than usual to load. As soon as I have my laptop Godfrey in good health, the blog will be back to normal! In the meantime, remember to become a fan of Urban Tease on Facebook and enjoy this quote about being average from Clara Bow:   “I don’t think I’m very different from any other girl - except that I work harder and have suffered more. And I have red hair.” 
- Clara Bow

polka.

  Ye gods, life is hectic! I'm finding myself constantly making lists and phone calls and orders and who knows what else. Either way it's keeping me busy. On top of that, my computer's battery went completely dead. I've ordered a new one, which will hopefully diagnose the problem, but in the meantime this means blogging from a different computer. Which is awkward and uncomfortable. So I'm sorry if this entire post is awkward and uncomfortable as well.
I wore this outfit a few days ago because I was excited to feature this new blouse which is from Lalamagic. It's adorable! I love the fluttery sleeves and the collar. And seriously - the eternal question rises again - who doesn't love polka dots? I also wore the faux leather shorts... Yes, I know I had said I'd never wear them in summer again. I'm so bad...but it wasn't quite as hot out this time. This is proof that I shouldn't segregate my clothing by seasons. Just the other day I was letting out huge sighs of exasperation as I tried to cram some new clothes into my closet, when I thought to myself, "Hmm, maybe I really should pack away some of my winter clothes? I mean, when am I going to wear a giant fuzzy turtleneck in July?" But, I swear Minnesota is so unpredictable and you never know when the weather will change at the drop of the hat. I swear.
I also am wearing these new earrings which were sent to me by the people over at Anjolee. I couldn't help myself when they emailed and offered to send me a pair. I immediately began envisioning myself wearing them in some '80s inspired ensemble and with my hair in a side pony. I decided to get them in garnet because I had a great grandpa in Germany who was a jeweler and I've inherited some of his garnet jewelry. You can get your own pair of Gemstone Diamond Stud earrings and wear them around with a side pony, radiating '80s kitsch wherever you go. So once again, thanks much to Diamond Jeweler Anjolee for sending me a pair of these beautiful earrings!
I decided that this outfit needed something else, so I buttoned up the blouse to the collar and threw on the garnet necklace I inherited. Suddenly, I felt very Diana-esque. And when I say Diana, I mean the Princess of Wales. When the "Diana: A Celebration" exhibit came to the Mall of America, I worked it as a gallery attendant/box office person and became very inspired by her. Spending 8 hours a day staring at her wedding dress or 27 of her dresses and outfits will do that to you, I suppose. But even more so, I was inspired by her poise and a certain sadness that always seemed to envelope her when she was in England. It was amazing - in photos of her married or videos of her with Prince Charles, the smile never reached her eyes. She always seemed so distraught, even after her marriage ended. But in videos and photos of her doing her charity work, she was radiant. There's something so beautifully tragic about Lady Di and I often find myself going back to one of her quotations: 
"Nothing brings me more happiness than trying to help the most vulnerable people in society. It is a goal and an essential part of my life - a kind of destiny. Whoever is in distress can call on me. I will come running wherever they are."
Diana was uniquely compassionate and expressed great empathy towards people suffering. To think that she was the first person of celebrity to touch a person with AIDS and leprosy - and by doing so, help extinguish the stigma surrounding the illnesses - is just tremendous. It's difficult to even wrap my mind around how devoted Diana really was to the people. She was the People's Princess. I think we can all aspire to be a bit more compassionate and while doing so, also borrow a notion or two from Diana's wardrobe. I have a feeling she would've liked this blouse very much. Maybe not the shoes, but the blouse for certain.
Anyways, I really need to stop going on huge rambles about how much respect I hold for Princess Diana. Or at least, I need to save it for my diary. I swear, this isn't the first time I've gone off on how beautiful of a person she was. Anyways, I'm listening to Pet Shop Boys and feel a groove coming on. Catch you later!

garden party

Hello lovelies! Sunday is here - my lazy day to get stuff done and bum around the house. I ended up going to see Beirut play The Cabooze last night and I'm tired from all that unexpected fun and also from the fact that my doctor has limited me to only eating bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast for the next few days. I'm craving tacos like no other, so I'm already anticipating this whole post-Guatemalan diet to let up. In the meantime, I'm going to stay home and clean. I have so much cleaning to do, it's ridiculous! I've let a lot of stuff accumulate and now I have to get it all done before it takes over my life.   I wore this little dress to church today. It is brand new from Lalamagic! I am obsessed with it. It's rare to find me wearing clothing of such bright colour but I'm enjoying it all the same. Maybe I should get into it more often. I decided to go all out with the colour and belt the dress with pink, green, and blue.  
I also wore my teal Steve Madden wedges. I thought that black would be too harsh to wear with such a light coloured dress and, believe it or not, these are my only "nice" shoes of colour! Most of my other church shoes are black. Aye yi yi, how did I let that happen? Shoe shopping time! I think these wedges are good testament to the fact that I love chunky shoes. I added purple socks because the shoes are slightly too big and thus my ankles needed some fattening up. Colour is fun to play with!  
I'm excited to keep wearing this dress. It's super light and flippy, making it ideal for hot weather (such as today!) but I also look forward to wearing it in the winter. I think it'll go perfect with a turtleneck underneath. Winter always gets so blaaahhh because of all the dark colours - this will brighten things up! But why I am talking about winter in July? I have all of November to talk about the impending cold.   Anyways, I better get a start on all this junk that's building up in my room. Aye yi yi, how did I let that happen? I'm off to see Moonrise Kingdom tonight with a good friend. I'm super excited, as I've heard wonderful things about the movie and I think it'll be perfect summer outfit inspiration.

guatemala

And she's back! After missing our connecting flight, the group spent a night in Houston courtesy of United Airlines and flew out the next morning - so I'm a day later than expected, but here all the same. Guatemala was amazing. The people of San Lucas Toliman were so welcoming and there was such a strong sense of community. Walking through the streets, everyone would smile and say hello, and the kids got especially excited, clustering together to wave and yell "Hola!" The mission's work was truly awe inspiring. The progress that San Lucas Toliman has made since the civil unrest of the '80s is remarkable and I'm glad that I could be a small part of working towards a better future.   I wish I was still there, in fact. It seemed like I left at the most perfect moment - when everything seemed to just be going down hill and I wasn't getting anywhere. It was great to get away for a week and just forget about all that and be with a group of incredible young people. I hardly even thought about what I'd left behind in Minnesota - my lackluster job, my so-called friends, all those dumb boys - and instead focused on making new friends and challenging myself to do physical labour. I revelled in my achievements and learned that I am excellent at hoeing and pick-axeing. I wore bermuda shorts and didn't even bother with makeup, and none of it mattered. It was great. It was just what I needed and I ended up growing immensely in my faith. And even though I'm now very sick and think I have the amoeba, it was all worth it. Time to eat rice & bananas, drink ginger ale, and watch "That '70s Show" re-runs!   I definitely don't think that I'll be getting into the bermuda shorts trend anytime soon, but it was nice to not have to care about what I was wearing for a while. As a result, I am feeling very inspired and ready to dive back into my wardrobe. Before leaving, I was feeling pretty bored with fashion and with my closet, but now I'm full steam ahead and ready to get out of that weird funk.   I bought this top in Panajachel, Guatemala. We had Sunday off from work and caught a boat across Lake Atitlan to go shopping in Panajachel and San Antonio. When I saw this top, I had a definite positive reaction to it. I pretty much just went up to the shopkeep, pointed at it, and said, "I want that." I dished out the low cost of 50 quetzal (which is about $7) and walked away feel very satisfied about the new purchase.   I bought the belt for the low low price of 25 quetzal. I bartered with the shopkeep even though I was typically wary of bartering since what they asked was usually pretty low to begin with. Half of the Guatemalan population lives in poverty and I heard that the average income is around $130 a month. I didn't think it really mattered if I got something for 40 quetzal or 50, but it did matter to the people I was buying from.   I also bought this new backpack for school! I'm so excited for semester to start and to be back in the classroom, and now the backpack makes me even more excited! It seemed fitting to buy the backpack because the coffee crop is one of the biggest economic players in San Lucas Toliman. Since the mission began distributing land and pretty much took hold of the coffee market, workers have been recieving fair trade prices for their coffee beans (200q for every 100 pounds - whereas the market price can vary but is usually less than 150q). While at the mission, we toured the coffee grounds and learnt a lot about the process of making a cup of coffee. One of our main projects was to fill little plastic bags with dirt which would then become a home for a coffee seedling. It takes 5 years before a coffee plant is ready to be harvested! It gave me a whole new appreciation for the coffee that I drank every morning. The mission puts out Juan Ana fair trade coffee and it is easily some of the best coffee I've ever had in my life. So you can see why I'm excited to be toting this bag around campus next semester! I also attached a llama keychain and a parrot keychain that I bought in San Lucas. I'm a sucker for cute keychains.   When I got home on Thursday, I found a package waiting for me...new shoes! I nearly forgot that I had bought these from wholesale-dress.net before leaving. They're so lovely - fit perfectly, easy to walk in, and super light weight. Not to mention, they were only $17. I'm super excited to incorporate them into my wardrobe more. They add the perfect amount of edge, don't ya think? Plus, I love clunky footwear. The clunkier, the better.   Anyways, those "That '70s Show" re-runs won't watch themselves! I have no idea what the rest of this month - or summer - has in store for me, but I'm very much excited to find out. Keep cool, kitties xx

DIY: Floral Sunnies

I was feeling inspired by the floral embellished sunglasses at Dolce & Gabanna and decided that it wouldn't be too hard to make my own with some cheapy sunglasses and polymer clay. Here, I'll show you the simple steps to your own sunglasses.   You will need: - sunglasses - polymer clay - E6000 glue - an oven, tin foil, and baking sheet  

There're a lot of varieties of polymer clay. Sculpey is a popular brand but I've also used Fimo with no problem. The price point for polymer clay is all pretty similar and it can be bought at most art supply or craft stores.     To make the rose bud, roll out a thin string of polymer and roll it into a swirl. This is the "bud."     For the petals, press out small circles and pinch an end together. Press each petal into the bud - I generally did 4 petals per bud. Fold the edges a bit for a "curling" effect.     In addition, I also made some smaller roses by putting 4 miniature petals together and foregoing the bud altogether. I also made some tiny green leaves to accent. Put on a foil lined baking sheet and bake per the clay's instructions.   When the flowers are hard, get out your E-6000 glue and begin gluing. E-6000 is a good glue to use because it dries clear and doesn't dry instantly, so you can manouever your flowers around. Let dry a full 24 hours before wearing!    

Book Review: Listen to the Warm

"I am what I am

sulking will not change that

but apple pies and warm hands help

and I have never known a cat

that couldn't calm me down

by walking slowly past my chair."

- Thirteen

It would absolutely be a lie if I told you there was never a point in my life in which I turned up my nose at poetry, tossing it off as stuffy and boring. I'm sure I spent most of my middle school, and maybe even the first part of my high school, experience being bored to death during the poetry units in English class. Maybe it's simply the poetry that my teachers chose to include in the cirriculum, but not much grabbed me. Sure, Emily Dickinson and Poe were always a thrill because of their morbid thinking - but otherwise flowers and nature and lost lovers just didn't really fit me.

Last year my mother gifted me two slim, hard covered volumes of poetry written by Rod Mckuen, filled with words of love for cats and autumnal days. Even his talks of nature didn't bother me and his views on love were simple and beautiful in a romantic way that wasn't gushy and didn't cause one to roll their eyes. Everything about his writing struck me as perfectly readable. Rod Mckuen had a way of wording things so that they sat there, blindingly simple and obvious, but never in a way that I'd ever think to word it myself.

"They can keep their butterfly collections

their nineteen-thirties songs and one-room trips.

I want to see the world within the circle of your arms

and sail the wide sea of your thighs.

These are the days of the dancing

six feet apart.

And what was your first name anyway?"

- The Days of the Dancing

Listen to the Warm, published in 1967, remains my favourite collection of poetry by Mckuen and I frequently stash the book in my work bag or my backpack to read when I have a moment of calm. My favourite poem changes routinely and I can re-read each one over several times, retaining full appreciation and wonder for every word. He was often accused of being a flake poet, overly kitsch with no real talent. I related to Mckuens writing in a way that he was a true romantic. Things fell together and then fell apart, with him knowing all along the way that they would end in such a way. So much of poetry is about why things had to happen the way they did and if only they hadn't, where'd they be now? Seeing as I'm not much of a sentimentalist, most poets view on love never struck me. Mckuen held on to small details. His writing is wonderfully descriptive and has a certain "stuck in the sixties" appeal. Kitschy, maybe, but I'm all for kitsch and have no problems with references to Shirley Temple or Mama Cass.

The main problem which awaits you with reading Rod Mckuen is how you're going to track him down. I've scoured the public libraries, second hand book stores, and even rainy garage sales to no avail. Despite selling millions of copies during his hay day, they have all seemed to vanish...or maybe they remain faithfully in the bookcases of the hippies and the romantics and all the people who originally fell in love with Mckuen's simple words of love and faith and longing. I know that I'll always treasure his book of imaginative poetry, reading it on buses and in breakrooms for many years to come.

"I wanted to write you and tell you that maybe

love songs from lovers are unnecessary.

We are what we feel and writing it down

seems foolish sometimes without vocal sound.

But I spent the day drinking coffee, smoking cigarettes

and looking in the mirror practicing my smile."

- Song Without Words

wanna play?

I leave for Guatemala in T-7 hours and haven't finished packing yet, but I was so excited about this playsuit that I just had to share it with you before I go! This playsuit was sent to me by the nice folks over at Lalamagic, a new online boutique specialising in vintage inspired threads. A lot of the items in the shop are handpicked from Korea and Japan, where fashion is exquisitely fun and very very cute. This playsuit is a great example of what the store has to offer and seriously, who doesn't love polka dots?   I decided to belt the playsuit as a means to calm down the mass amounts of ruffles that run down the front. And then, of course, I had to continue with the pink theme by adding a hairbow and pink lipstick. I have to admit that I'm highly disappointed in the lack of following in the side pony trend... I've only run across one side pony since I made it my cause to bring it back. All the same, I thought a side pony brought the perfect amount of '80s kiddie kitsch into the playsuit, especially with a big pink bow on top. I found the bow at work, sanitised it to death, and then happily went home with a new accessory. I'd like to think that I snatched it off some little brat's head while at work, but that wasn't the case. I constantly find myself dreaming of acting out at work and just going bat shit crazy on my guests... But alas, I need my job too much to make these fantasies come true.   The dreaded saddle shoes are back as well! They added the perfect amount of playground pep to the outfit. That and I seriously need some new summer shoes. I keep meaning to shop around but I never find anything I like. My feet are much too narrow for flats or sandals and even some brogues. I have so many pairs of boots but hardly any fair weather shoes. Ugh, the burdens of living in Minnesota!   Anyways, I really must get packing. I also have a few blog posts to write up for you kids to keep you entertained while I'm building roads, singing with school kids, and reforest-ing from recent mudslides. Keep your eyes peeled throughout the week for updates and I'll have a mega post when I'm back. Till then, make sure you browse through Lalamagic and also follow them on Facebook! xx

go blue jackets!

The 100-degree heat wave that's been in Minnesota has finally passed and it's finally bearable, even pleasant, to go outside. Thank goodness, seeing as my dog was going crazy with boredom and work was torture in our long black pants and long sleeved button downs. I don't know how people who live in warm climates do it. The humidity was so high that sometimes it was difficult to just stand outside and breath. It felt more like you were swimming. Hopefully that's done with for a while...I was starting to lose inspiration as to what to wear, only wanting to put on cut offs and t-shirts because I would simply sweat through all else.   I spent the day running errands, so I kept things simple today. This summer has been very 1970s inspired and so I kept with the theme. Who're the Blue Jackets? Beats me! I found this t-shirt for a quarter at a garage sale a few weeks ago. Not only did it say "summer" to me, but I also need cheap-y t-shirts to wear in Guatemala. I really like the shirt, but I'm confused as to why a Blue Jackets shirt is red?   Speaking of red, I accented the outfit with a red belt and was happily wearing red sunnies until one of the arms broke off. I suppose that's what I get for buying $3 sunglasses, but it was tragic and I was so distraught for the rest of errand running.   I am also wearing my favourite brown shorts which were a gift from my aunt. She made them herself back in her youth and I adore them to pieces. Whenever I wear them I feel like a camp counselor. Let it be known that these shorts are as close to a camp counselor as I ever want to become. I'm definitely not a "kid" person. I can maybe do one kid at a time, or a few if they're quiet and disciplined. (Side note: I actually was a camp counselor for a few years and those were probably the worst weeks of summer. There's a reason why I quit doing it.)   My father took these photos today. He's still getting the hang of the camera. Oh, speaking of close up portraits....   Like I mentioned, Moses was going insane being locked inside the house (albeit, air conditioned) for the past couple of weeks. I took him out to play in the grass before work yesterday and the above resulted. He's such a goof, I adore him to pieces. But let's not kid ourselves, everyone feels that way about the little guy. How could you not?   I have 4 days and counting till I'm on a plane to Guatemala. I cannot wait to get away and do something meaningful. I used to spend so much time volunteering because it was a high school graduation requirement to volunteer 1,000 hours. I accomplished the hours in the first couple of years and eventually my volunteering fizzled out because of college and relationships.   I mentioned in my last post about how I don't really connect with a lot of girls because they seem to only want to talk about clothes and shopping with me. I really appreciated a comment that Char left. It's true, maybe a lot of girls do use clothes and shopping as an ice breaker and I'll definitely keep that in consideration! I guess I just don't ever have much to say about the topic and it falls flat immediately, making me think that I just can't properly talk to a lot of girls.  

I have several posts scheduled for while I'm gone that I'm excited for! I'll even have a giveaway coming up soon. There's so much going on in my life right now and I love it that way.

I like the way you walk

After a string of unsuccessful dates and an empty bank account, I'm finally burnt out and looking for excuses to stay in. Add onto that, the heat index is about 100°F and I have no qualms about not going out. I'm actually looking forward to staying in tonight. I plan to sew and watch Andy Griffith. I think that the news of his passing was some of the saddest to reach my ears all summer. I grew up with tremendous respect for Andy Griffith and I've always taken great comfort in knowing that he was still alive. It's tough news to hear that one of your childhood idols has passed on.  I had planned to wear this outfit to the zoo, but after taking these photos I had sweated so madly that I decided it wasn't worth the pit stains and changed into something sleeveless. I'll save this for cooler weather. I was most just excited to share one of my Crafty Projects...these sunglasses!  I've been in love with the floral sunnies at Dolce & Gabbana as well as with some of the other designer spin offs that have followed. Almost immediately after seeing them in one of my fashion magazines, I vowed to make my own by the end of the summer. I used polymer clay to make little flowers and then glued them to some cheap-y sunglasses using E-6000 glue. I'll post a tutorial soon and am already buying more inexpensive sunglasses to decorate with odds & ends. I'm kind of addicted...  I spent today running errands around town, being successful in 2 out of 3. I leave for Guatemala in 5 days and seem to have so much to get done before then! I'm absolutely excited to be down there for 8 days, building roads and helping in reforestation efforts. I won't be bringing any fancy sunglasses down there, but I'm looking forward to the experience and hoping that it will change me for the better. My 5 weeks backpacking Europe had such a huge effect on my outlook on life and especially on materialism...I'm hoping that going to Guatemala will influence that even more. I think that when most people stumble upon the blog, their only impression of me is that I'm some dumb teenage girl who only cares about clothes and make up and how she looks...which is so untrue. Yeah, I like to look decent and I think clothing and make up are really fun creative outlets, but there's so much more to me than that. I was recently having a discussion with a co-worker about why I only have a couple of girl friends. The reason is this: the number one question I get from girls is, "Where do you shop for clothes?" That is usually followed with, "Can we go shopping together?" To be quite frank, I hate talking about clothes and shopping (to an extent). It's so mundane (also, to an extent). Most boys couldn't care less about what I wear, where I bought it, etc. and thus I have real, actual stimulating discussions with them. Girls start and end with clothes and shopping, which really isn't me at all. I was reading the new Teen Vogue and in the article with Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield there was a very poignant ending note. It kind of went something like this: Emma Stone: But people do always ask that. They ask who is my style icon, what's the one thing that I can't leave my house without. I'm always like, "My clothes!" I can pretty much leave without anything. It's fine as long as I'm not naked.
Andrew Garfield: I don't get asked that—
Emma Stone: You get asked interesting, poignant questions because you are a boy.
Teen Vogue: It's sexism.
Emma Stone: It is sexism.

And so, I'm really looking forward to going to Guatemala as an escape from all that. From sexism. It's just gonna be a group of girls who don't know me and don't know that I have a fashion blog. And we can build roads and wander around San Lucas and not care what we look like or where we shop, and not care that sexism even exists, because we're there for a reason even larger than sexism.  Okay, that's over with. I've found myself lost deep in thought lately because there's been so much going on in my life. It's been very bumpy, which is largely why I cannot wait to hang out with a bunch of girls or why I cannot wait to spend the night by myself watching The Andy Griffith Show and sewing. In addition to the DIY sunnies, I am wearing floral shorts that I bought at Target last year. They're super lightweight and swing-y, making them ideal for the heatwave that's passing through Minnesota. I don't know if I've ever featured them on the blog before, but I brought them to Europe with me last year, only to find out that much of Europe is chilly during the summer and thus the shorts were not really weather appropriate. Thank goodness they're cute with stockings!  Anyways, that is all for now! I have so much to get done this weekend (agh!), but I'll be sure to update and have some posts scheduled for over my trip! Keep cool in the heat, kids xx