Freddie

Anyone remember Freddie?

2011-08-08T01:15:00.003-04:00

Well, she just started a new blog, to go with her "new life" where she's busy pretending but also trying not to be a real person:

Letters to No one: A post-grad story

I'm not sure if that's actually the name of the blog. Maybe it is.

2010: A year a lot of things happened.

2010-12-31T13:45:00.001-05:00

A lot of things happened in 2010… and for posterity I feel like a year in review type of post is in order… and I hope I finish this post before 2011 but I still have a lot to do this year like shop for the party I am hosting tonight, figure out what I’m wearing, go to a friend’s dinner and remember to pay my January rent. Part of me, however, wants to curl up in a ball on the couch and pretend that if I stay there 2011 won’t happen because as much as it’s approach excites me, 2011 marks my entrance into the most uncertain period of my life. After 21 years marked by semesters, school, and classes, in June of 2011, I will finally be entering “the real world.” But that is still 6 months away, I guess we will just have to cross that bridge when we come to it.

That being said, a lot of pretty great (and some not so great) stuff went down in 2010. Like, 2010 was the year I studied abroad in London. That was pretty epic.

There is no way to even remotely begin to sum up that experience so I think I will just leave you with this. Really I promise I’m not the only one singing. Just, I’m holding the camera, so that’s why I’m louder.

Also see here for some pretty good summaries, with pictures, of my travels. From an overview of my semester of travels (with pictures) to my walk to class that one time I took pictures of it.

Also abroad, I discovered my inner clown, and hung out with a bunch of other awesome clowns as well.

I caught the travel bug, and went to Rome, Florence, Venice, Paris, Brussels, Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp and Amsterdam (wow that sounds like a lot of places) even though Eyjafjallajökull prevented me from going to Madrid and Barcelona. When I got home, I still couldn’t sit still and ended up traveling to Evanston and Chicago, and then eventually Austin, Texas.

In 2010 I also said goodbye to one kitty, and hello to two adorable new ones. Casper

Darwin and Orwell

I watched a whole bunch of my friends graduate, turned 21, celebrated gay pride, got my picture in the New York Times, became a senior, moved into an awesome apartment, and played Rebecca in Our Town for the second time.

I also got some great new blogging tools which I hope to make further use of in the new year: A Cannon Rebel and a new Inspiron laptop.

I could probably go on about 2010 forever, but instead I will just say that I hope 2011 will be just as great a year, if not better, and that I will strive to be my best and do my best as I make my way into that crazy place that some call the real world.

Happy New Year.

Regards,
Freddie

A New Computer, {almost} a New Year

2010-12-28T14:08:00.001-05:00

So I got a new computer. I suppose you could say it was for Hannukah/Christmas but really it was because I needed one… for the past 6 months or so my old laptop has been putt-putting along at frustratingly slow speeds, overheating easily, and the battery is “reaching the end of it’s useable lifespan” as it likes to tell me every time I turn it on. Although I was reluctant to make the leap – it feels like such a big commitment, my dad basically said “just get one while I’m still willing to pay for it” and so after much deliberation I upgraded to the newest version of the Dell inspiron. At the time I was worried that oh, it’s just the newer version of my old computer, it’s not really an upgrade but boy I can already tell I am wrong! It is so shiny and sleek and new looking (though I’m sad to report they no longer make them in yellow – my new computer is red) and FAST so FAST. It’s going to take me a little time to learn Windows 7 but I can already tell I’m gonna like it. It also comes with Windows Live Writer… all I do is click “internet” on my desktop then “blog” and oh hey here I am writing this post right on my computer… maybe it will encourage me to become a more frequent blogger again. I think I’d like that. Anyway mostly I’m writing this to test out live writer, exciting stuff.

Here’s a picture (just to make sure I know how to insert pictures) from the adorbz windows “character” theme I’ve got going on right now:

And anyway if you’re looking for some real content I have been updating my tumblr a little bit these days.

Until soon I hope.

Regards,
Freddie

P.S. I can even preview the post directly in writer… so cool! … I also have a feeling I’m really behind the times on this whole blogging on your desktop thing, haha.

It gets better

2010-10-22T15:43:00.007-04:00

A lot has happened since my last post.

Fall break happened, and I went to Austin, Texas to visit my best friend where things like this really exist:

Then I got off the plane in Ithaca and I could see my breath.

Then a whole lot of beautiful LGBTQ youth comitted suicide (are are still doing so!) because bullies are mean and awful and the media decided it was time to finally cover shit and then a whole lot of cool and important people tried to tell them, IT GETS BETTER.

Some of the videos made me cry:

{really, watch this one.}
Some were made by some of my favorite peoplez on the interwebz.

Then this pretty lady also talked about it.

And then Hillary and Obama talked about it too. (How come I/we call Hillary Clinton Haillary and Barack Obama Obama? I don't know. Probably there's something sexist lying in there too...)

And then some Broadway stars decided to sing about it, which, in my opinion, always makes everything better.

Then a lot more school and rehearsal and other things like that happened and finally last night I kicked my wines prelim in the butt (no, ok, actually it kicked me in the butt but then I got to go home and actually drink wine instead of study it so that made me happy).

Then today I felt like taking some silly outfit photos mostly because I wanted to show off the cool belt I got in Texas (I have cool booties to show off at some point too) and therefore this post happened, but also because I wanted to share the it gets better videos because it does and I think this stuff is so important, for reals.

When you're a jet you're a jet?
{H&M blouse and hat, j.crew sweater, second hand skirt, ? tights, boots from london, vintage/second hand belt from Texas}

Also blogger photo resizing changed and is weird and making my body slightly squished/out of proportion I think. I tried to fix it. Oh well.

Wish I could have taken these outside but did I mention it's getting kind of cold out...? It gets better folks... but it also gets colder. Seriously, by my next post Ithaca is gonna look like this:

But first since I'm still in college, Halloween starts this weekend (eek it's my last college Halloween, what!?) so I need to come up with a costume or four.

Regards,

Freddie

On again off again...

2010-09-08T21:42:00.007-04:00

That's the kind of blogger I am.

But that's ok with me, because I suppose then I know I'm not doing it to please anyone but myself. (But your comments are always appreciated too!)

And it does seem a shame not to put my gorgeous new camera to good use.

My pretty baby looks a bit like this:

Anyway, school started. And I seem to be keeping myself pretty busy for only having a 13 credit schedule (the lightest ever of my college career). Hey, sometimes you've just got to be a senior. But this year I have a car, which opens up a whole new realm of possibilities in Ithaca (as does being 21) and I'll also be doing a show (though I didn't get the part I wanted... I will be reprising the small role of Rebecca in Our Town which I played at 14, but I'm going to make the best of it!) which I suppose adds a credit, as well as taking horseback riding lessons. I am so very excited. I have never ridden a horse before! My first class of that is on Saturday :)

Anyway, I did want to share some of the photos I took on my bike ride around Ward's Island that one day this summer. The light was just so glorious. These are just a small handful of favorites. (Click for larger versions)

On my way to Ithaca, we stopped at my Grandparents house to see them and to get my car. Grandpa had just received a shipment of day old chickens. He fancies himself a bit of a farmer and also has a blueberry patch, guarded by a wolf-man, as well as some ducks.

Here the chickens are about 3 days old.
(again, click to enlarge)

This past weekend, we had labor day off and I had one of my lovely bffs from home, Helen, up to visit. Together we attended Ithaca Brew Fest where we very seriously and scientifically sample some of the finest brews from all over.

We also paid a visit (my first, but most certainly not my last) to the Ithaca farmers market to pick up some produce (as well as some blueberry wine!) to fuel my latest cooking experiments. They've been fun and tasty, but not always so pretty. Most recently I cooked up polenta (first try! It was instant... but still tasty) with roasted veggies, including some farmers market beets. Nom nom nom. I definitely want to continue cooking this semester - our kitchen is pretty great for a college kitchen. I need to do an apartment photo-tour sometime, our place is really pretty great.

And last but not least, for good measure, an outfit post. I do wish I could have shot this in better lighting, but you win some you lose some. Also, it's been so long since I played around with layers and frames instead of doing things like reading Riders of the Purple Sage or Wines for Dummies. Did I mention I was taking a wines class this semester?

{dress from a Berlin flea market, h&m tights, Zac Posen for target tuxedo jacket,
boots from a random London Camden town shop, ? black flower pin}

The weather here has been super bi-polar. Yesterday and parts of this weekend pushed 90 degrees though I have no photo proof of that. We shall see.

And finally (really) for fun -- a zoom-out of where the outfit photo was taken. You can see most of my great wall of hats. And yes, I am standing in a corner made by 3 doors - the one behind me is my bedroom door and on either side are two of my closets. I have three of them :o

Regards,
Freddie

I suppose that wasn't completely true

2010-08-06T17:04:00.002-04:00

I suppose I have bought some new things this summer. And I know I can still put together an outfit when I set my mind to it.

Kater recently wrote a nice post about "saving outfits" and I think that is exactly what I do. I don't want to "debut" an outfit without feeling like there's a purpose, sure I dress for myself first and foremost but it's nice to think that someone will see what I'm wearing and appreciate it as well, and lately there just haven't been too many such occasions for me. I go from gym clothes to my funny work uniform and it often seems a waste of clothing (especially with how lazy I am when it comes to doing laundry...) to put something different on in between.

I suppose I felt the need to pull this particular outfit out again to photograph because I have tried to "debut" it twice in the last week and failed. The first time I was on my way out to dinner (all you can eat mussels at The Flea Market Cafe... not sure I can remember that last time I was that full, good grief!) with a friend and dropped my mascara brush down the front of my outfit while I was getting ready. Smooth. Luckily I was able to save the skirt completely, and after much labor the stain on the shirt is just barely noticeable any more, but obviously I had to change clothes for that evening. The second time I was supposed to meet a friend at a bar and just as I arrived she told me she had suddenly gotten sick -- food poisoning or an allergic reaction perhaps! -- and couldn't come. I puttered around a bit and did end up running into someone else I knew, but all in all only stayed out about an hour, not long enough to feel that I really did the outfit justice.

Anyway, for my own personal records if nothing else, here it is. These were also supposed to be the first outfit pictures taken with my DSLR but the darn thing was out of power (I must have left it on or something? ... I plan on sharing the scenic pictures I took last time I used it soon) and I wasn't about to file these clothes away yet again, so out came the point and shoot. (Ironically I'm not sure where my point and shoot's charger is and it's almost out of batteries too!).

And of course the sun came out all bright and shiny as soon as I was done with my little outfit shoot.

Wind always poses a bit of a challenge on the roof.

{vintage skirt, h&m shirt and glasses, urban renewal belt, BC sandals,
vintage watch, Essie nail polish in body language}

The skirt was a lovely vintage find from my semester in London (only £10!) but was previously about a foot and a half longer than this. I didn't have a sewing machine abroad so I filed shortening the skirt away as a summer project... and then took over three months to get around to it. I'm glad I finally did.

The shirt was an H&M purchase from early this summer and is something I have been living in. It works great with jean shorts and sandals for my lazy, non outfit creating self. The sunglasses were purchased at H&M around the same time.

The shoes too are new this summer (though also from a while ago) from shoegasm, one of my favorite shoe stores, and were bought in an attempt to replace an old, falling apart pair of summer sandals. Unfortunately I can't really rock a heel on a daily basis (though I'm starting to wish I could). Though as far as heels goes, these are pretty easy... and I ended up with the clarks I love since these didn't work for every day. So I do suppose it was a win win though I'm still sad about the demise of those old sandals.

Also the time is an hour off in that last photo... haha, whoops.

Anyway, time to pack up my clothes for work and be off. Hope to be doing some more blog reading and writing soon.

Regards,
Freddie

Disillusioned with Style

2010-08-01T13:02:00.013-04:00

Lately I've been feeling rather disillusioned with style, or with my own style in particular. I feel like I just don't care that much about it these days. I can attribute this partially to the fact that half the time I leave the house I know I'm going to have to change for work - I'm waitressing at a Mexican restaurant (Diablo Royale Este) this summer and our uniform is the kind of torn up band shirt you probably thought was really cool and "punk" in middle school (or maybe that was just me?), black bottoms, and beat up converse -- my hand studded pair are serving me well here at least (remember when I really wanted black converse to put studs on? Well I finally did it and lived in them all semester in London).

I'll confess I am having a little fun with this uniform because in some ways it's like I'm putting on a costume - I get to be a slightly different person at work than I usually am. I mean, I would normally never wear anything like this out of the house (I generally wear something different and change when I get there, but I'm lazy with what I wear there because I do know I'm just going to change.) I suppose I could say it helps me get into "character." And I have a lot of fun chatting with people at tables in a way I don't think I could do in any other sort of situation.

Anyway, speaking of putting on a costume - I was also just in a show, yet another thing to have to change clothes for. It was a tiny, experimental project (the show was this past Thursday and one night only) but somehow we ended up in the New York Times! If you feel inspired to read about it, please be my guest.

That's me all nice and shiny in the back with the mask on.

So this stuff has kept me pretty busy which I suppose has contributed to a lot of quick throwing together of outfits as I run out the door in the morning (I spent a lot of last week out all day bouncing from rehearsal to work and having to carry multiple "costumes" with me at all times). I never would have thought that I, the girl who almost cried when she learned her job last summer required shorts (no skirts or dresses) and closed toed shoes, would this year self-impose a summer uniform of jean shorts and a tee, or maybe a flowy blouse when I'm feeling fancier. I mean, I sometimes dress like this even when going out, and in some ways it feels great, it's nice to not care so much, but at other times I'm just getting so bored with my wardrobe and my outfits.

I do finally have a great (and comfortable!!) pair of sandals though.

However, other than these, I've been doing very little shopping this summer - trying to save money and all that - which is, of course, contributing to my boredom. It has also been DISGUSTINGLY hot and humid the past few weeks -- though it's gotten much nicer over the past couple of days -- making comfort the top priority. I guess I'm just not sure what my style is anymore, and that's ok... but I do really want to get re-inspired. Maybe going back to school will help with that? There are only 3 weeks left of my long and somewhat lazy summer after all. I return to Ithaca for my final year (scary) on August 21st and I will confess I can't wait.

In other news, I thank those of you who expressed your concern and support after my last post. My aunt was in a terrible bike accident -- no one knows exactly what happened but she went over her handlebars going very quickly down a trail on a mountain or hill. She has been out of the critical stages for a little while now, and my mom who spent about two weeks at her side is now home, but she has aphasia and has a lot to re-learn - it will be a long road. However, wearing a helmet saved her life. So please, don't be too cool and fashionable to wear a helmet. I used to think I was and didn't wear one but never again. It's sad it took something like this for me to realize how silly my vanity was, but I just bought a pretty blue helmet from nutcasehelmets.com.

If you buy one today you can enter code "OPRAH" for 30% off! (haha, thanks Oprah!)

They also have some pretty adorable printed ones but they were out of my size in my favorites and I decided maybe I should get something that will still feel appropriate for me to wear in a couple of years? Though I may very well have ended up with one of these if they hadn't been sold out of the Small/Medium:

And I fully encourage purchase of a fun, colorful and silly helmet... as long as you wear one!

This girl also hand paints some really gorgeous head-protectors but they are a bit out of my current price range.

Anyway, I don't mean to preach, but long story short: do get a cool helmet, but don't be too cool for a helmet.

Maybe (probably) I'll do another bike related post at some point, but if you want some more bike candy for the time being, check out this shop.

So I suppose that's all for now on this odd two-topic post... I'm still here, floating about, and I suppose we'll see where the rest of the summer takes me fashion-wise. I do have a bit more free time now that my show is over, and I'm only working about 3-4 days a week. Perhaps I will allow myself to shop a little? We'll see.

Oh, also I got a hair-cut that I'm not thrilled with (it's about shoulder length now) ... yet another contribution to my current fashion blasé. But I know, I know, hair will grow.

Regards,
Freddie

The Nothing

2010-07-14T12:32:00.005-04:00

It's about one moment
That moment you think you know where you stand
And in that one moment
The things that you're sure of slip from your hand
And you've got one second
To try to be clear, to try to stand tall
But nothing's the same
And the wind starts to blow
And oh you're suddenly a stranger
In some completely different land
And you thought you knew
But you didn't have a clue
That the surface sometimes cracks
To reveal the tracks
To a new world

-{Jason Robert Brown, Songs for A New World}

It takes one phone call, one facebook post, to break you. To rock you to the core. One minute you are smiling, annoyed because probably that's a telemarketer calling, the next your mom is on a plane to salt lake city.

You are upset. But you make a pizza you are proud of and drink some red wine even if maybe you got a little cork in the bottle and things are stable right now so it's all going to be ok.

Then the next morning, a note on facebook, and bam. Something completely different, and awful, all over again. Information is disseminated so quickly, and sometimes so impersonally these days. You can't control the way people learn things. Pages on the internet remain as shrines to the lost, immortalizing them after they are gone.

Did you ever watch The NeverEnding Story when you were little? It was one of my favorites. And I was always terrified of the Nothing.

But Bastian and Atreyu had wonderful and fuzzy friends.

And so do I.

And a brilliant new camera to capture them with. And some great not quite so fuzzy friends and family offering their support too.

And when the fear of The Nothing becomes paralyzingly close... like it is in danger of swallowing me up any second now, I try to remember what happeat the end of the story.

Bastian: Why is it so dark?
The Childlike Empress: In the beginning it is always dark.
Bastian: What is that?
The Childlike Empress: One grain of sand. It is all that remains of my vast empire.
Bastian: Fantasia has totally disappeared?
The Childlike Empress: Yes.
Bastian: Then everything has been in vain.
The Childlike Empress: No, it hasn't. Fantasia can arise in you. In your dreams and wishes Bastian.
Bastian: How?
The Childlike Empress: Open your hand. What will you wish for?
Bastian: I don't know.
The Childlike Empress: Then there will be no Fantasia anymore.
Bastian: How many wishes do I get?
The Childlike Empress: As many as you want. And the more wishes you make, the more magnificent Fantasia will become.
Bastian: Really?
The Childlike Empress: Try it.

-{The NeverEnding Story}

I try to remember that the Nothing doesn't have to mean the end. It can also mean the beginning.

Regards,
Freddie

{Pizza and Kitten picture taken by me on my new Digital SLR}

What Daddies Do Best

2010-06-20T16:50:00.003-04:00

So I was getting all ready to post pictures from my London show -- Metamorphosis -- and then realized, it's Father's Day! I should do a Father's Day post... a Father's Day flashback post to be precise!

{Daddy and I: same chair, different places}

{Every Saturday morning we would have Daddy play-time.
Sometimes we went to the park... sometimes we played shop
and made up lots of silly characters, like "Mrs. Fall"}

"I believe that you are, and always will be...my little princess."
-Captain Crewe, Frances Hodgson Burnett's A Little Princess

And can't forget Grandpa in a Father's Day Post!

Even if he does spend a lot of time lounging around...

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

Oh and one more... sorry Dad, I just could resist ;)

Regards,
Freddie

A garden. I've stolen a garden.

2010-06-07T22:30:00.003-04:00

Today I accidentally discovered a beautiful little garden between Avenues A and B.

"One of the strange things about living in the world is that it is only now and then one is quite sure one is going to live forever and ever and ever. One knows it sometimes when one gets up at the tender solemn dawn-time and goes out and stands alone and throws one's head far back and looks up and up and watches the pale sky slowly changing and flushing and marvelous unknown things happening until the East almost makes one cry out and one's heart stands still at the strange unchanging majesty of the rising of the sun—which has been happening every morning for thousands and thousands and thousands of years. One knows it then for a moment or so...And it was like that with Colin when he first saw and heard and felt the Springtime inside the four high walls of a hidden garden. That afternoon the whole world seemed to devote itself to being perfect and radiantly beautiful and kind to one boy. Perhaps out of pure heavenly goodness the spring came and crowned everything it possibly could into that one place."

-- The Secret Garden, Frances Hodgson Burnett

{target t-shirt, cardigan and scarf, old navy skirt, second hand belt, keds}

Today was full of a lot of little city adventures - some as a part of my first day of NYC tour-guide training and some, like the garden, on my own. I also learned how to properly pour beer from a tap.

This past weekend was spent enjoying (mostly) lovely weather in the Berkshires where I got to drive my "new" Volvo which will be coming up to school with me in the fall.

Sarah Ruhl's Passion Play was the highlight of last week. It was a truly epic, moving, creative piece. Backstage gives a nice review. I got to see it the evening of the post show discussion and so I also got to meet Ms. Ruhl herself and get all starry eyed and tell her she was my favorite playwright (true) while she signed my playbill ;)

The photos from the show I was in in London (an adaptation of Kafka's Metamorphosis) also arrived. They are pretty sweet if I do say so myself. Perhaps I will share some soon.

Regards,
Freddie

Oh hi.

2010-06-03T02:15:00.006-04:00

Anyone remember me? No. That's ok. In fact, maybe that's good. It's been a while, but I keep writing blog posts in my head. Funny because they always come out really well when I'm walking down the street or on a bus or plane or train (which I seem to have been doing a lot of lately) but when I sit down to write they're pretty shit. But that's ok. I still want to write. I guess it has something to do with what a wise Brit told me not too long ago. In a BADA masterclass, Kelly (I'm too old to play Goneril but am still a bomb actress) Hunter said: you have to stay creative. This business [acting] can drain you and it's so important that you stay creative, no matter what you do: whether you write, or paint, or sew, stay creative for yourself. And that's what I want to do.

By the way I totally did not pick up all this Britishisms living overseas. I've just been watching too much Skins since I got home. Do you ever find that when you've been reading/watching or whatever something a lot you starting talking, writing and even thinking in their style. Like after reading Shakespeare I start to think in Shakespeare language. And sometimes even in verse after Moliere. Just me? Ok.

Anyway, I've been a lot of places these past few months:

London

Rome

Florence

Venice

Paris

Cambridge

Bruges

Brussels

Ghent

Amsterdam

Antwerp

New York City

Ithaca

Evanston

Chicago

(Eyjafjallajoekull caused an unfortunate bypass of Madrid, Barcelona, and Copenhagen)

And seen a shit-ton of theater (some amazing and some not so):
Twelfth Night
Nation
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (with James Earl Jones)
Licking Wounds
Every Good Boy Deserves Favor
The Misanthrope (with Keira Knightley)
The Caretaker
Waiting for Godot (with Sir Ian Mckellen)
Red
Greta Garbo Came to Donegal
The Habit of Art
Jerusalem (with Mark Rylance)
Dunsinane
A Midsummer Night's Dream (with Dame Judi Dench)
Money
King Lear (with Greg Hicks)
Taming of the Flu (at Second City)

{I could expound open these for ages but I kept a journal for that in London and it's late and the list is long. Therefore I will refrain}

But, anyway, I think I've spent a lot of my time, especially since term ended, running away. Yeah, I learned a lot over there, about acting and about myself, and I'm happy to say that I am more confidant and comfortable with who I am, or at least moving in that direction, and I don't know if that would have happened without going abroad, but, since April 15th, I've been facing something terrifying looming ahead of me: an empty summer. I have never in my life had an empty, unplanned summer. There was always summer camp, or internships, or at least a steady babysitting job and some classes all set up for me to do before school was even out. Sure, I would get a little vacation time, but there was always something waiting on the other side. Granted, unlike my many recently graduated friends, I do have school -- one final year -- waiting for me at the end of August, but I have four, now three, empty months of summer in between. Sure in some ways I used the last month productively, but it was always with a clause of going away for the weekend which somehow prevented me from planning anything permenant. I've been away 3 out of 4 weekends so far and am gone this next weekend too. Then I have jury duty... and then, what? I suppose in many ways my summer is filling up as it goes. I have thus far managed a few auditions (which nothing came of of course) and bartending school among plenty of fun times with friends. But to look at my calander and see it almost completely empty beginning in mid-June is frightening. Perhaps because it is giving me a glipse of what things may look like next summer, when it is all for real. Because, if I don't actually find a job or something useful to do with myself this summer, it's not such a big deal afterall. If I don't next summer... then what? I suppose it is good that I am having this realization now. Getting a practice run for the real world. But it still scares me.

Point being, or at least one of them, that one of the ways I want to fill this great void is with creativity. Because I have a need to make things. I have a need to make blank spaces full. On my calander, on a page or computer screen, whatever. Even if it's crap, it's crap that I made. I have these need to feel like when the day is done, I've left something behind. And the only way to do that is to create.

Aside, when you're busy being scared about voids and other things of that matter it sometimes helps to have two new kittens to curl up with and make you feel comfortable and unconditionally loved.

{Darwin and Orwell}

And that's a fact.

So here's to a summer of creativity, kittens, and maybe a few more episodes of Skins every now and then.

Cheers.
Freddie

Quite a lot of stuff

2010-01-31T15:50:00.010-05:00

Sort of disappeared again there for a while (sorry mom. haha.). I was working on a post a couple of days ago but then my computer decided to get cranky and scare me by pretending to crash and when I got it back in working order I had lost my blogging motivation. Do not worry though, all is well with it now, and I am still love love loving it here. (With the exception of my bed perhaps. You can feel all the springs poking you when you lie or sit on it. It's excellent.)

Anyway, since I last wrote, I saw:
A. Cat on a hot tin roof

Which was freakin' fabulous. Such a stellar cast. Later that week we had a master class (question and answer session) with Phylicia Rashad (Yes, Momma Cosby!) and Joe Mydell (who I'm pretty sure was as impressed with Phylicia as the rest of us). That woman is a profit. Seriously. She is so full of wisdom. She should be a motivational speaker or something. You know... in her spare time when she's not busy acting on The West End or Broadway or TV...

"Life is like a classroom, and each of us makes our own lesson plan --
make yours a good one"

Legit.

B. Every Good Boy Deserves Favour

A really cool Tom Stoppard play with a full orchestra on stage. Brilliantly executed. It was in the same theater that Nation was but this time we were in the front row! Yay day seats!

C. The Misanthrope

With none other than Ms. Kiera Knightly who I am sad to report was terrible. Kiera, I suppose it's not your fault they made you do an American accent (why oh why oh why???) which certainly did not aid in your performance, but you really should stick to film. Also, you should eat something. How about some of what I made for dinner tonight? It was really good. Especially the sweet potato. My flatmate was so impressed she had me take a picture. I did not object.

{homemade/improvised vegetarian chili (sort of.) - I was forced to attempt my own because I swear all chili in this country is con carne - with greek yog, guac, cheddar cheese, a baked sweet potato and nan (yes I do mix my ethnicities. So what? London knows how to do Indian food)}

Next time I should really make my own guac too. The waitrose (excellent supermarket which is conveniently about 10 feet from my door... though it's further than the nearest pub and betting parlor! haha) guac was ok but one thing London does not know how to do is Mexican food. They think tortilla chips and Doritos are the same thing. Legit. I don't think regular tortilla chips exist here. If you get nachos at a pub they are made with Doritos. And like, artificial cheese sauce. A lot of my friends think these are good. They are not.

Anyway, back to The Misanthrope. I think my dramatic criticism teacher (The fabulous Christopher Cook - wish I had class with this man more than once a week!) said it best: "The show literally sank under the weight of it's own conceptual cleverness." Yep. Pretty much. A shame really. It had so much potential to be good: a witty, modernized, self-referential script, a cool set and costumes, some talented actors, a big celebrity name. But alas: fail.

We also attempted to see Jerusalem this weekend, which is a new play and has gotten nothing but stellar reviews, but the guy on the phone lied to my roomie about what time we needed to get there to get day tickets so we shall have to try again soon. Day seats, btw, are usually 10GBP and can only be gotten on the day of the show. Kind of London's version of Broadway lottos and student rush. I do however have tickets to go see Waiting for Godot with Sir Ian McKellan next weekend! (How often do you get to see a show in which one of the actors has been knighted?) Makes me kind of not sad to have missed the Roundabout version with Nathan Lane and Bill Irwin. (Ok, so that would have been pretty cool too, but still).

Anyway, after that ticket fail we ended up getting fish and chips at a huge and crazy looking pub with a tree inside (ok not a real one... at least, I don't think so).

We then explored London's Chinatown for all of 5 minutes. Sorry London, New York has you hardcore beat on this one too. I love you, but your Chinatown sucks. Two of my friends then got solicited by some Swedish twins. Seriously, Europeans are so much more forward than Americans. On Thursday night I got drinks with two of my fellow Cornellians who are also in London and one of them got stopped on the street by a Londoner who told her she was just "too cute to pass by without saying something." We asked him for a recommendation of somewhere to get dinner and he told us to follow a street to an alleyway and then knock on a manhole cover and say "fi-fie-foe-fum" to get let in to a secret locale. We promptly parted ways and ended up at a creperie a few blocks away. haha.

Wow... this post is getting long... guess that's what I get (or you get?) for the long wait.

Anyway, in an effort to keep including a little fashion on this blog, and also in an effort (which I begun yesterday) to take pictures of people while I am here and not just buildings/things, here's what my friend Kate and I looked before going out last night. We're... uh... mirroring each other because we are cool theater people and because we matched. Completely unintentionally.

{Topshop versus Primark. The battle.}
(my dress from Topshop, Kate's from Primark)

Primark is this super huge, super cheap, crazy clothing store which seems like it's full of amazing things, but shopping there is a serious battle ('cause it is HOT and CROWDED) and nothing seems to fit/look right on me so all of my trips there have thus far been fails. There are some boots I'm thinking about going back for but they weren't actually that cheap so I have a feeling I could do better. Some of my friends have had great success there though..

Oh I also forgot to mention that I stopped by the British Museum last weekend after a welcome meeting at the Cornell-Brown-Penn UK Centre. I'll have to go back though since I didn't realize they closed early on Saturdays and ended up with only about an hour there. I did, however, see the Rosetta Stone, as well as The Enlightenment room, which was really kick-ass.

It was also really cool to be at the museum at closing. It made me feel like I was in "From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler."

Ok, I think I'm pretty close to having covered all the important stuff. There has also been a lot of going out dancing (to clubs and pubs) and a pinkberry imitator called Snog. Good name, fro-yo not as good as pinkberry.

Oh yeah, and then there are my classes. I'm currently working on some Juliet (from Romeo and Juliet of course) in Shakespeare and Cecily from The Importance of Being Earnest in High Comedy. My teachers are totally full of wisdom too. Not only does Ian, the dean of BADA and my Shakespeare teacher, love my floral docs (haha), but he comes up with gems like "life is understood backwards but lived forwards" during class. Um... what? Amazing. My high comedy teacher, Madeleine, is also probably one of the most fabulous, crazy, flirtatious, and intelligent people I have ever met. I have learned so much from her already!

Ok. I've spent far too much time writing this. I should go memorize lines and read some Mother Courage. Oh Brecht. I must confess I don't really get you. You are pretty cool though. More involving than Chekov at least ;)

However, just in case this wasn't enough for you, some of my friends here are doing a hilarious mocumentary about their time in London/at BADA. They posted their Pilot and First Episode today and so far it is great. They're calling it "Real Life London."

Pilot:

Episode 1:

My friend from Cornell, X, who's studying at UCL has also posted a vlog, in which he discusses London's fail at Mexican food (salsa) and the creepy hollow spot in his wall:

I'm feeling like maybe I need to get up on this video thing too.

Alright, that is really all for now,

Cheers!
Freddie

P.S. Sorry for a lack of blog reading/comment responding. Maybe I will bring my computer to school tomorrow and do some of that during the long break we have in the middle of the day. I also kind of want (need) to do work, and want to read my book and go in to Camden Town again... so we shall have to see ;) haha

The Tate was Great.

2010-01-16T17:25:00.002-05:00

Some of my favorites:

The Balka installation

Therrin: table and four chairs:

Parker: 30 pieces of Silver:

Kiefer's artist room:

Natural History Part 1 (Mushrooms) by Twombly:

The Entire City by Ernst:

Therrin's Red Room:

The Photography of Robert Frank

And SO much more!

Cheers!
Freddie

Hit the ground running

2010-01-16T15:55:00.002-05:00

Wow. Talk about jumping right in. This week has been crazy, but I am having an absolute blast! My classes are everything I could ask for, the days are long and exhausting, and the people are simply wonderful. My schedule looks like this:

Mondays:
Voice 9-10:30, All-school meeting 1:30-1:45, High Comedy 4:15-6:15
and every other week a 30 minute private tutorial (for monologue work and such) in one of those long breaks.

Tuesdays:
Voice 9-10:30, Movement 10:45-11:45, Stage Fighting 12:30-3:15, Theatre History 3:30-5:30

Wednesdays:
Movement 10:30-11:30, Shakespeare (acting) 11:45-1:45, Modern Physical Theatre 2:15-4:00, High Comedy 4:15-6:15

Thursdays:
Dramatic criticism 9-11, High Comedy 11:15-1:15, Modern Physical 2:30-4:15, Shakespeare 4:30-6:30

Fridays:
Shakespeare 10:45-12:45, and then sometimes a Master Class in the afternoon

So, as you can see- we've really got it packed in there. And I'm already doing a whole lot of scene work (which translates to homework) which is also great! And once a week (at least- we can see more on our own if we want of course) we rush straight to the theater from school. This week it was Twelfth Night on Tuesday and next week it's Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Monday -- I'm so excited!

Twelfth Night was good, but it was no Shakes in the Park. Especially the music. The music from the production in the park was so much better.

Anyway, in addition to our packed schedule, it's about a 40 minute walk to school and then another 40 minutes home at night. However, the walk is really quite nice (especially now that the ground is thawing--temps are up to the 40s Fahrenheit, it's practically spring! haha) and I thought I'd give you a little tour of the journey.

{We have the cutest houses on our street. I want the white house with the pink bike to be mine.}

{We pass by a lot of really really old looking things, like "The Montagu Mansions"}

{and some other "notable" landmarks like the Sherlock Holmes hotel and Madame Tussauds, haha}

{and then we enter the park. Everything is more regal here, I swear}

{However, the best things in the park are probably "Cow and Coffee Bean" and "The Honest Sausage." I've yet to actually visit either but that's gotta happen}

{Almost there! Note the melting snowmen. Also, doesn't it look like they're running away from school? ;) }

{BADA! We are here!}

P.S. I did visit Camden on Monday and I loved it. The cold weather helped me keep my hands in my pockets though and all I bought was a £10 cashmere sweater. I'll be back though, you know it. This Monday, however, I may have to use my long break (no tutorial this week either) to hit up Whole Foods. Seems silly I know, but it's so close to school I don't know if I can resist ;)

In other news: last night I saw a show called Nation--a super cool (though a tad cheesy) folktale come to life with the most amazing "special effects" created with people and screens and puppets. It was so visually stunning--followed by partying it up with BADA folk at one of our friendly neighborhood pubs: The Duke of York. They're so nice there!

And today: The Tate Modern. But that was so awesome it deserves a post of it's own.

Cheers!
Freddie

I still need my morning coffee but this is my cup of tea.

2010-01-10T16:46:00.002-05:00

Well, I'm in London! I arrived at my flat around 10am Friday morning and was the first one here so I was able to snag the largest room for my roomie and I -- score! After a little unpacking, the girls from my flight and I (who happen to both be in the flat across the hall) wandered around a bit and found some food. My first meal in London: why, Indian food of course! When we returned my roommate had arrived (safe to say: she's a baller.) The rest of the day was filled with more unpacking and errands (like grocery shopping. No canned pumpkin=sad. Things like Cadbury light mousse (99p for a pack of four!)=happy) and ended with drinks at the Victory, the pub which is literally across the street from our flats before conking out at the extremely late hour of 10pm.

Saturday was another day for errands and exploring- I hit up Boots for toiletries and Orange for a cheapo phone, among others. One of the year-long students, who is the 5th member of our flat (lucky girl has the only single in the program!) also showed us a charming bookstore called Daunt's where I purchased a handy dandy, but not too obtrusive, London guidebook with foldout maps. We entertained the notion of going out again in the evening but with a 9:30 departure call for the morning, eventually decided against it.

This morning we were up and out (after I made my first English-style quick oats- with milk and cooked in the microwave- so fluffy and delicious!) right on time for a bus tour of London. Our guide was super cute and funny and we got a nice tour of the major sites, mostly from inside the warm bus, but we did get out for a few photo ops. I definitely have some places I want to go back too -- The Tate Modern and the Victoria & Albert Museum (we used photographs from their costume exhibits in my costume history class last semester!) anyone?

{marble arch, Buckingham palace, (the demon barber of...) fleet street,
St. Paul's: Mary Poppins... feed the birds!, requisite phone booth photo, Tower Bridge,
Tower of London , the London eye (must hit this up too!), Big Ben}

After the tour we went back to BADA for lunch and then had our orientation session. We found out our groups and classes and all that jazz. I can't believe we start tomorrow... I'm waking up bright and early (at 7am!) so we have time to find our way there. It's kind of a long walk to the school but walking really is the best way to get there. I have voice, my bi-weekly private acting tutorial, and High Comedy, as well as our weekly all school meeting which is held on Monday afternoons.

Anyway, no outfit photos yet. As you can see, the sky is appropriately grey even in the daytime (and it gets dark at like 4-4:30), and I have yet to breech the whole "I take pictures of myself" thing with my flatmates. haha. They are all really awesome though and we've done a lot of chatting and bonding thus far ;)

I have a feeling this blog is going to become more about chronicling my London adventures than capturing my style this semester, especially since I was so limited in what I brought with me :P. haha. However, some (or a lot) of my adventures are bound to be fashion related... I mean, you know me. I have some downtime between classes tomorrow (a lot of awkward shortish breaks actually because of the meeting and the tutorial) so I'm hoping I'll be able to hit up Camden for some exploring since BADA is right near there.

Cheerio!
Freddie

This break I mostly photographed baked goods

2010-01-04T12:49:00.004-05:00

So, this break, one of the things I did when I wasn't being busy or lazy was bake! (No no... not that kind of bake ;P) I made lots and lots of cookies. You already saw my snickerdoodles (a very successful effort if I do say so myself) and to bring to my friends house for Christmas Eve, and to give to others as gifts, I decided to make cookies as well.

I saw this recipe for peppermint cookie bark floating around quite a few blogs and I thought it looked really pretty, yummy, and festive (the verdict: freakin' delicious!). To continue with the festive feel, I decide to make gingerbread cookies as well. Now, I knew the recipe I was following for the gingerbread made a lot of cookies, but I didn't realize quite how many. It was quite an endeavor, especially since they were supposed to be baked one sheet at a time in the top 3rd of the oven. Let's just say it's a good thing no one else was home because the kitchen was a cookie baking mess and there were cookies cooling all over the dining room, haha. Then the next day, there was the decorating ;) Anyway, it was a lot of work, but a lot of fun and they were a huge hit with all their recipients. The dreidels were especially popular at the Christmas party, haha.

The "bark" didn't photograph all that well but it tasted amazing!

Gingerbread everywhere:

And some of my favorite iced masterpieces:

I delivered cookies to some neighbors after seeing God of Carnage.

{h&m top and red tights, american apparel skirt, rodarte for target bow belt,
mom's lace tights and tuxedo jacket she made a long long time ago, ? shoes}

And brought the rest to the Christmas Eve party, where I debuted more of my Rodarte for Target purchases. (My sparkly new years dress which I failed to capture on camera--boo--was also from Tar-jay.)

{Rodarte for Target dress and cardigan, mom's little black booties}

Oh, and notice the haircut? This was the night of so it was still nice and blow-dried from the salon. Not a super drastic change but definitely needed, and I believe it has increased the number of people who tell me I look like Zooey Deschanel, haha.

And my most recent baked endeavor? Little coffee cake cupcakes. I made them two days ago and there is only one left. A good sign? I think so.

These are also a "lightened" version- a little reprieve from all that heavy holiday food. I don't actually think the topping came out that great but I'm a fan of the cake base :)

Anyway, I'm not sure when or what I'll be blogging next. The next few days are going to be spent laboriously going through my closet and trying to fit as much closing as possible into a mere two suitcases and a carry-on. Then I'm off to London on Thursday but I hope to be able to post once I've settled in. I may also be doing some blogging about my overseas theater experiences for my school's theater department over at Schwartz Scene, but I hope that even with my limited time and internet (the bandwith in our apartments is limited-boo-hoo!) I'll have a chance to keep up with posting here (at least as much as I do during the normal school semester) as well. I don't know how much blog reading I'll be able to do, but knowing me I'll be doing some because I'm always looking for some reason to procrastinate :P

Until Soon.

Regards,
Freddie

Happy New Year

2010-01-01T16:54:00.004-05:00

Hmm, fell off the radar for a bit there again. This break I've either been very busy or very lazy haha. I'd say about half and half. It's been nice though. I do have a few outfit photos to show (though none from last night, gah! I will have to recreate it. And none in good lighting either... it gets dark so early!) but right now I think I'll do a little New Year's post with a survey I stole from my cousin which seems appropriate.

1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
Assistant Stage Manage a show. Operate a sound board. Write a Play. Probably other things too.

2. Where did you begin 2009?
On my roof, with bubbly and my friends, yelling and complaining about how a building was blocking our view of the fireworks. haha

3. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Some of them somewhat. I did start eating better and exercising (at least some of the time) and I think I made progress on the being true to myself thing too. I also have kept up with this blog! (however intermittently). I don't know if I'll make more. I think just more of the same really, I feel like I'm headed in the right direction in a lot of areas of my life and I just wanna keep on going!

4. What was your status by Valentine's Day?
I went to a couple of mean singles appreciation day parties ;)

5. Did anyone close to you give birth?
no

6. Did anyone close to you die?
no

7. Were you in school?
yep

8. What countries did you visit?
None actually. I spent all of 2009 in the US! Though I was in Switzerland right at the end of 2008 and in just 7 days I'll be headed to the UK!

9. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
A person. If you know what I mean ;) hah

10. What moments from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Moving out of the house at the end of sophomore year... and moving into my apartment: especially living there alone the first week of rehearsals before classes started and unpacking during that crazy thunderstorm. A lot of things from working in the Park this summer: all our antics and hard work. The staged reading of the scene from my play because it was scary (in a good way) and such an achievement. That time when Mike called to tell me something important, haha ;)

11. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting into BADA!

12. What was your biggest failure?
Maybe sleeping part-way through a rehearsal for the show I was assistant stage managing. whoops. However, it all turned out fine (and other than that incident I was a very good ASM if I do say so myself) so I'd say if that's my biggest failure I'm doing pretty well.

13. Did you have to go to the hospital?
Yep. I somehow failed to mention this previously but about a month ago, on the weekend in between the end of classes and study period I slipped/fell and hit my chin/underneath my chin on the corner of my chest of drawers and had to get thirteen stitches. Oops. It seems to be healing nicely though and since it's under my chin you don't really see the scar unless something interesting is going on above my head. Or if you're really short.

14. What was the best thing you bought?
Oh geez. Well, overall, probably my ipod touch. Fashion-wise, maybe the dooney and burke bag, or my floral tights. Though my mom kind of bought those. haha. The filson bag is also really excellent (I've been using it a bunch since Christmas) but that was also a gift. Wait... I think I got my hunter rain boots and my steve madden flats in 2009! (Super early 2009... maybe the first week of January?) So I say those! And I got my floral docs! Goodness... those too ;) haha

15. Where did most of your money go?
Er... probably Rent and food. Followed by seeing shows and on clothes and such. But not so much of the later in the second half of the year.

16. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Getting into BADA. I almost gave my friend a heart attack by running into her apartment screaming. haha. I also had a similar level of excitement about getting my internship with Shakespeare in the Park.

17. What song(s) will always remind you of 2009?
hm... maybe Bruises (Chairlift). Banana Pancakes (Jack Johnson). Anything by the Weepies or Jenny Lewis. Anything from In Our Bedroom After the War (Stars). I gotta feelin' (Blacke Eyed Peas). And probably anything Lady Gaga. And of course, the Twelfth Night Soundtrack.

18. What concerts/shows did you go to?
Concerts, hmm. Girl Talk was this year. So was Stars. And I saw Jenny Lewis over the summer in the park.
As for Shows? Well, everything at Schwartz, and sort of in order: Equus, Hedda Gabbler, Guys and Dolls,
Cirque de Soliel (can't remember/figure out which show/what it was called but it was great), Exit the King, Blithe Spirit, Twelfth Night, the Bacchae, God of Carnage, Finian's Rainbow, In the Next Room or The Vibrator Play, Next to Normal. The last four were this break. I didn't do my usual reviews on here but God of Carnage was hilarious (like, peeing your pants hilarious), Finian's was very very cute, funny, bizzare, enjoyable and musical comedy esque (you know, big dance breaks, everybody's happy at the end, etc). The Vibrator Play was beyond words fantastic: hilarious, touching, poinaignt, beautiful. And Next to Normal was great too- very
moving and talk about belting! It was also fun to win two lottos in a row (in the heights for my friends and next to normal for me and another friend) ...and almost not getting my next to normal tickets because the guy thought my name was Nathaniel. haha

Also noteworthy: The Model as a Muse exhibit, and the Tim Burton exhibit at MoMa which I saw yesterday afternoon.

19. Compared to this time last year, are you:
I. happier or sadder? Happier I'd say.
II. thinner or fatter? Thinner!
III. richer or poorer? Probably poorer.
That's the way to be, right? Happy, thin, and poor? ;) haha

20. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Creative things, like sewing/knitting like I used to. Wish I had seen more shows too... but don't I always wish that?

21. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Definitely procrastinating. Also emotional eating :P

22. How will you be spending Christmas?
Next year? Honestly I haven't got a clue. I hope to be home eating my mom's homemade pesto, potato, caramelized onion and goat cheese pizza though ;)

23. What was your favorite TV program?
Hm... probably Lost, though the hasn't been going for the last 6 months or so, but is coming back very soon! Pushing Daisies, which also ended prematurely :( And Grey's Anatomy of course. I also got into FlashForward this semester. haha. Oh ABC.

24. What was the best book you read?
Hm... Shadow of the Wind was really good. Maybe that.

25. What were your greatest musical discoveries?
Stars' In Our Bedroom After the War, for sure. Landon Pigg's Falling in Love at a Coffee Shop off a TV commericial, haha. Jenny Lewis. haha, basically all repeats from the previous music question.

26. What did you want and get?
An ipod touch, hunter boots, floral docs... a good bag (the filson one)... a lot of other clothing/shoes/accessories/etc. And plenty I wanted and didn't get of course too ;)
And some non-material things too... into BADA, my internship... oh, and thinner? haha

27. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 20, wore a crown, and moved large, heavy pieces of steel down Lafayette street. Ate sushi and cupcakes and went to sleep early.

28. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Hmm... I don't know. I would say "a person" as I did for something else above, but for all I know that could have made it worse ;)

29. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Shopping my closet. Ok, and shopping actually too. :P

30. What kept you sane?
My mom and my friends. Friends especially this semester. Also, bloggers and their blogs!

31. Who did you miss?
My grandparents, friends from home while I was at school, friends from school while I was at home. Lydia (my childhood babysitter who still comes by every other Tuesday), Madison (my old cat).

32. Who was the best new person you met?
Hm, I met quite a few great new people this year. Maybe my little, Hannah :) or perhaps Kristin or Erin- new friends at school. Or almost any of the people I worked with this summer- even my bosses!

33. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009:
Um... try not to fall on your face? haha. No, I don't know. I guess, just go for it (whatever it is) because you probably don't have as much to lose as you think you do.

34. Did you move anywhere?
Yep! Out of the KD house, back home, into my apartment in Collegetown, and then back out and home again! I'm a pro.

35. What's something you thought you would never do but did in 2009?
Perhaps asking a certain someone to coffee? haha

36. What was your best month?
Tough... I don't know, maybe May? : Slope day, finals and then a break and starting my internship.

37. Any regrets?
Hmm... nothing too much or too terrible really. :)

38. Overall, how would you rate this year?
Really pretty good.

39. What did you like most about 2009?
I don't know. Many different things at many different times of the year.

40. Other than home, where did you spend most of your time?
THE SCHWARTZ CENTER. haha. And over the summer, Central Park/The Delacorte. I'm pretty sure I spent more time in those places than home.

41. Change your hairstyle?
A little bit. I got it cut a few days ago- it's a bit shorter and choppier with more layers. Nothing radical, though I did think about it. My lovely friend-twin Jessie chopped all her hair off though and it looks fabulous.

42. Get a new job?
Yep- the internship

43. Do anything embarrassing?
Um... falling on my face and having to ask my friend to take me to the emergency room to get stitches? Yep. haha.

44. Get married or divorced?
Nope.

45. Did you get sick this year?
No actually! I avoided the swine flu.

46. Start a new hobby?
Reading food blogs! And cooking too.

47. Are you happy to see 2009 go?
Neutral I'd say.

48. What are you wishing for in 2010?
Health, happiness, and success. Good parts and good people.

And how did I start 2010? Why, with my very first blogger meet-up!

Thanks to the fabulous Lynn Chen for organizing and inviting me! She is such a sweetheart. We ate lunch at Spring Street Natural Restaurant (I had the "Mayan Eggs: two eggs on a yellow corn tortilla with black beans, Monterrey Jack cheese, Guacamole, lettuce, and ranchero sauce) and we discussed acting, blogging, and New York, among other things. The other bloggers were great too- turns out Chelsea lives right in my neighborhood and Ada and I know a bunch of the same people from growing up and going to school in NYC!

When I arrived home, Urban had sent me an e-mail full of things to lust after in the new year:

Anyway, less flashbacking and reminiscing and back to some regularly scheduled programming soon. I don't know how much blogging time I'll have in London (and we have limited internet bandwidth- uh oh!) but I do hope to post about my adventures. 7 days!!

Regards,
Freddie

Happy Blog Birthday to Me

2009-12-19T13:05:00.007-05:00

So, it's my one year blog-a-versary... now, how on earth did that happen? Of course, I have no outfit pictures because I've been thoroughly lazy for a lot of this vacation so far and have been lounging in PJs, gym clothes and perhaps a pair of jeans or two. And days where I do really get dressed it's too cold or too dark for nice photo taking. Ah well.

This is also my 80th post. Not a terribly large or celebratory number, but still a nice round one and I figure that means I've averaged 6 2/3 posts a month, and considering I've often aspired to at least one post a week, I say - not bad!

Anyway, for lack of something else to post, how about a little outfit recap of the past year?

{December 2008, January 2009}

{February, March}

{April, May}

{June}

{July}

{August, September}

{October}

{November}

And December 2009... coming soon! ;)

Also... how about some of my favorite purchases from the past year?
(In no particular order)

{Hunter Boots, Steve Madden Flats, Floral Docs}

{Blue skirt, little grey bag, brown boots}

{trench coat, straw boater, feather headband, 50s dress, dooney & burke bag}

{floral romper, bandanna print dress}

And of course a bunch more. It was a big year of shopping for me but I've been on a break (well, to the best of my ability--I did a little shopping in October over fall break but not too much!) since August. I think I may spend some time clearing old stuff from my closet today... to make room for the purchases of the coming year ;) While I'm still trying to save money, the holidays have brought in a couple of cash-gifts and we all know I'm going to be doing some shopping in London, it simply cannot be avoided. haha.

Anyway, in closing- here's some of the delicious food my friends and I have made this year ;)

{chocolate covered strawberries (and cherries), southwestern turkey burgers and sweet potato fries}

{vanilla-strawberry-zucchini cake with vanilla pudding frosting, caramelized onion and artichoke heart pizza}

{4th of July brunch, acorn squash stuffed with quinoa with sautéed apples and almonds}

{slow cooked provençale chicken, snickerdoodles}

Here's to another fabulous year of fashion, food, theatre and travel!

Regards,
Freddie

Wow...

2009-12-17T13:00:00.009-05:00

You know, I never really thought I would have to deal with the negative comment thing on my little unknown place in the blog-o-sphere. It shocks me that someone would take the time to write something like that on a blog that I haven't even updated in a while and that has never had more than 6-8 comments on any post. I thought I had taken off anonymous commenting since I was getting some random spam on old posts but I guess I failed to do that. So I have now-- if you're going to say something like that at least man up to who you are -- but I'm not going to turn on comment moderation unless this becomes a problem. Anyway, I was planning a nice post for the weekend since I'm back for break and becoming a human post-finals again, woo-hoo! And- this weekend marks my one year blog anniversary! I know I haven't been very consistent with updating, but I've still kept up with this blog and it's honestly something I'm quite proud of. I write it for myself, and if people like what I write, that's great, if they don't, then too bad.

Now, to leave you with some nice things :)
I am getting this bag for Hannukah:
(yeah my family is good with surprises... haha)

{small filson field bag}

It's a good size and I think it'll be quite versatile.

I've also been lusting after these boots, especially because I need a new pair of snow boots to make it though my next Ithaca winter, but it was these or the bag and I don't really need new snow boots until next year because I'll be spending the rest of winter (post January 7th) in London, not Ithaca! :)

{pajar grip boots}

I was undecided on what color I liked (I thought red was the best but my winter jacket is green...) but I saw them in a store the other day and the brown looks much better in person ;)
But that's irrelevant for the time being anyway.

Some other pretty things:

{Silver Anthro Oxfords}

{Rodarte for Target}
(must go! Starts December 20th!)
I'm not actually that big a fan of this particular model and the accessory combos they are showing but I think a lot of the individual pieces are great.

---------

Anyway, I started this post this morning and got interrupted to go have lunch and wander about town with a friend of mine. We had a really nice time- ate in the Grand Central dining concourse (I had veggie samosa- yum!), browsed the holiday market, and ended up walking down to check out the Macy's windows, complete with crazy looking elves and interactive letter writing stations... and they talked to us... crazy o_o haha.

After we parted ways, I was completely revalidated from this morning's slight setback... a cute young Korean woman stopped me on the street. Her English wasn't great but she said she worked for a Korean fashion magazine or something like that and wanted to take "a picture of my style" ! I was all bundled up in my usual coat and hat, my black cashmere scarf, and these flats with some nice wool cabled tights. Anyway, I gave her my e-mail and blog URL so if she finds her way here: hi! - you really helped make my day :)

I had been doing some hopping from store to store to keep warm and browse and after that I went to gap kids and tried on some of the Stella McCartney pieces. I would really love the grey cashmere hoodie but I have a feeling a lot of other small adults had the same thought as well... the biggest size left was a medium (6-8)! It fit... but obviously was really tight and silly looking. I also tried on (in various sizes- there weren't a lot of XLs/XXLs left in anything...) the cashmere leggings (swoon... so comfy but so unnecessary), the grey leopard sweater dress (a large), the tulle skirt in green (which fit and looked great but is way to silly to purchase...), a party dress (really cute and pretty but too short and wide) and an interesting long-sleeve button down which I almost bought. I might actually go back for it... unless I can somehow get my hands on that hoodie. The boy's military jacket is of course also gone in any size anyone over the age of 14 could imagine fitting into, haha.

an amusing video of someone trying to squeeze into some of these looks, haha:

The BFF also got home last night -- *joy* -- and I made some cookies (snickerdoodles) to welcome him home.

{still working on my food photography... it gets dark out so early now so the light's not in my favor}

Anyway... guess this post didn't turn out so bad after all. More outfit posts soon hopefully--I'm actually somewhat unpacked now and can therefore find some clothes to wear ;)

Regards, and happy Hannukah!
Freddie

The First Snowfall

2009-12-05T15:05:00.003-05:00

The first snowfall of the year is always magical, and while I kept telling myself I was glad it had been so unseasonably warm this winter (ie: in the low 40s) there was no denying the slight smile on my face this morning when I left the theater building and felt a little flurry, nor the even bigger grin when I looked out my window a few hours later to some real, genuine, bona-fide snow.

How could you not feel content to gaze out at this all day long? Snow falling slowly, perfectly, and beautifully. I wish the camera could capture that.

Even the garbage bags manage to look almost romantic. And I do think the reflection of my light is a rather nice touch. There's a lot more snow built up since I took these too.

It makes me want to douse myself in hot chocolate, sprinkles, and sequins and wear big puffy white gloves, winter hats and party dresses, but alas, much work is yet to be done. Somehow, I think it's going to be hard to get myself back in the mindset of writing my play... which happens to be set in a summer camp. I know in a few months I'll be eating my words (or not, seeing as I've only got two more week in Ithaca this winter: the harshest part usually comes in January and February and I'll be overseas) but honestly, right now, I choose winter.

{Silence & Noise Sequin Cardigan, Kimichi Blue bag}

{Bird-in-hand mittens, Fiddlehead mittens}

{Keiko Lynn, Libemarlene}

{?}

{Makool, Yohji Yamamoto}

And for holiday food inspiration, I'm once again drooling over tastespotting.

Alright, back to work. Or at least to trying.

Regards,
Freddoe

Happy Turkey Day

2009-11-26T21:49:00.003-05:00

School kind of ate me up there now didn't it? Well, I can't promise to be much better until the end of the term (so close and yet so far) - I have oh so much to do and won't bore you with my complaints - but as I recover from my turkey dinner (or in my case, mostly a stuffing and pumpkin pie dinner - my favorites - yum!) I thought I would grant you with a post ;)

Not the best lighting ever, but when you're in the library stacks, all alone on the Tuesday night before Thanksgiving break when half the campus has already departed, getting books to bring home so you can write a research paper over your all too short vacation, it's hard to resist the photo op ;P

{dress from renegade craft fair in brooklyn - summer '09,
topshop tights, h&m sweater, vintage doc martens}

I'm trying out picasa for image hosting and editing at the moment. We'll see if I like it- I'm not sure I do. But my new toy (the ipod touch! -- my old ipod was 5 1/2 years old - the 3rd gen, pre-click wheel - and was pretty much ready to bite the dust) required me to get an account to use the blogger application. Not sure I will use that either, especially considering the ipod doesn't have a camera, but still a cool idea :)

Anyway, hope you all enjoyed your Thanksgivings for those of you who celebrate and see you again in December. Classes end the 4th and my last exam is on the 11th!

Regards,
Freddie

Practically Perfect in Every Way

2009-11-06T18:30:00.003-05:00

...if only I was. School is catching up to me again, though in just a bit I am leaving for the city (yes-home) for the weekend with a small crew of theater people for some workshops/networking stuff with a couple of theaters tomorrow. Should be cool but of course I really am too busy to do it. Everyone is staying with me though- it's gonna be a full house ;) haha

I'll be back with outfits and other stuff again soon I'm sure (though geez it's gotten cold this past week... probably no more pictures outside but we'll see) but for now I'll leave you with my costume from Halloween night.

Regards,
Freddie

All Hallows Eve

2009-10-28T22:10:00.004-04:00

Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, which is excellent when you're a college student. Of course, this also means it gets celebrated two nights in a row. Last night, I got to act in a haunted house. I got all creepified and sat on a table that was covered in "blood" and candy in the middle of an empty room. When the tour guides led people into my room they would tell them something about me (little Suzie, or Cindy, or Samantha, haha) and my mental patient status. I would offer the guests candy in my best creepy, possessed child voice (a lot of people were too scared to take any, haha) and when they were all spread out standing around the table, other people who were hiding behind tarps taped to the walls of the room would scream and yell and some other people would grab at their legs from underneath the table. Haha, it was so much fun seeing everyone's reactions! (And having to report back to everyone behind the tarps after each round, haha) A lot of people got so scared! Good times :)

Now who though I couldn't be creepy... huh? ;)

After the haunted house I decided to run with my character for the rest of the night. I've never gone the scary Halloween costume route before and it was a lot of fun.

However, tonight will be much more lighthearted. I'm attempting to dress up as Mary Poppins.

What are you going to be?

Also, it's about time I post embarrassing old photos on this blog... right? And what better way to do so than with a Halloween flashback!

2003: As a cow. I had a cow bell and a tail too.
(This outfit was actually a reprise of 2001, but I don't have pictures on this computer, or maybe even on any computer, from before '03).

still growing out the bangs of my youth here...
funny how my hair styles seem to have come full circle ;)

2004: As Dorothy. With two of my besties: the cowardly lion and a tap dancing, sexy ladybug (haha, love you my friend but that doesn't make me less amused by this, haha)

yes, that is a child's costume.

2005: As Peter Pan. I don't seem to have a picture, which is sad because I really think this was a good one. Maybe I think it was good because I don't have a picture? ;P

2006: Minnie and Mickey. Yeah, not gonna lie, this was pretty legit.

My momma made this dress. When I was little, she always used to make my Halloween costumes. That stopped around high school. I was supposed to make this myself but was too busy so I talked her into it ;)

Also, that thurr is my bestie. And yes, even as Mickey he wears a polo. hahaha.

2007: Audrey.

Oh my freshman dorm. Memories.

2008: Minnie reprise.

haha.

I was going to cop out and go with Minnie or Audrey again this year because I have all the things I need... but I decided to try to be a little more creative and come up with something different. I'm mostly putting the outfit together from stuff I already have so we'll see how it goes ;)

Happy Haunting.

Regards,
Freddie

p.s. if any of my friends object to the presence of their photos here, just let me know and I'll take them down.

Wanted: Motivation. Or Inspiration. Reward: Good Question.

2009-10-28T21:24:00.004-04:00

I can't seem to get motivated to do anything this evening. Not even my laundry. It feels like it should be Friday already and clearly this is not the case. I think the problem is I don't have anything that is specifically "due" tomorrow... but you know, I should be writing a play, and doing research, or studying... there are many large tasks looming in my future that I should get work done on. But they're not "due" tomorrow. So I'm not motivated. Booger.

I did just spend a while browsing Sheila Callaghan's blog archives since my playwriting teacher suggested I might do so and therefore it was kind of homework... right? She's a playwright. She seems like a really cool lady. Like I would want to be friends with her and we could be random and creative together and it would be great.

Anyway, yesterday was a beautiful, warm fall day. Unlike today, which was rainy, and the rest of this week and weekend which also promise rain. However, the rain did make today a trench coat day, and whenever I wear that coat I feel like the part of this song where she sings about being a spy ;)

Found a kind of nice photo taking spot behind my building yesterday though. Wonder what the old guys with the leaf blowers thought I was up to? haha. I also really enjoy taking pictures with my new glasses on. They have not yet lost their novelty. And my new-ish black converse have been sorely neglected this school year... now that I'm allowed to wear whatever shoes I want... so I felt like I should take them out for a bit. I'm still thinking they may need studs.

{target vest, H&M blouse, street fair scarf, AG jeans, black converse}

This outfit was also partly inspired by what we're working on in acting class at the moment: a very experimental, rough production of Woyzeck. Before fall break we picked parts by drawing slips of paper. I am the drum major... the manliest man in the play. haha. It's quite fun, but really tough. Anyway, I'm wearing this vest as my "costume" (and have also provided this jacket, this jacket, and this hat for other members of the cast to wear). I did in fact, get asked if this outfit was a costume for something -- though it was followed by a compliment... how diplomatic ;) -- which surprised me, because to me, anything with jeans is incredibly tame and normal. haha.

Yesterday in playwriting, a few of the guys and my professor also got into a conversation about my wardrobe and how cool it is. One of them suggested I charge admission for a tour of my closet, haha. He said he'd pay $5 and another guy said $3. Hey, for real, any takers? ;) And my professor commented on how hard it is going to be for me to pack for London. Yep, she hit the nail on the head with that one.

Speaking of playwriting... that's really what I should be doing. I started a new play over fall break and I have this great middle scene and a great idea but everything around it is just a fuzz. It's hard when something needs to come creatively to you but it's work and it has a deadline. Guess that's sort of the story of every artist who ever wanted to make money.

Maybe I will go try and force the creative process. Or maybe I will just give in to the fact that I'm not getting anything done tonight and hope for better luck tomorrow?

Regards,
Freddie

Featured

2009-10-27T01:04:00.002-04:00

Life and light (it's starting to get dark early...) got in the way of an outfit photo for today. Another real post soon, promise. But for now. I'm featured on weardrobe- How cool! :)

I'm also busy researching fashion imagery for homework: I need to find looks inspired by historical dress from various periods.

{found via foto_decadent}

Fun. But distracting...

Regards,
Freddie

Back in Black

2009-10-23T01:22:00.004-04:00

Less words today. Don't know what to say. But the weather was beautiful and my black skinny jeans fit again so these were both exciting things. Rainy weekend ahead though. Alas.

{target tank top and belt, uniqlo skinny jeans, h&m sweater, braided scarf made by me,
other scarf from urban, vintage doc martins}

"Do you ever have the feeling, when you wake up in the morning, that you're in love but you don't know with what? It's the feeling that you want to love strangers, that you want to kiss the man at the post office, or the woman at the dry cleaners---you want to wrap your arms around life, life itself, but you can't, and this feeling wells up in you, and there is nowhere to put this great happiness---and you're floating---and then you fall down and become unbearably sad. And you have to go lie down on the couch."
--Melancholy Play, Sarah Ruhl

A Grocery Store Musical:

Thanks to all for the congrats on London- I can't wait!

Regards,
Freddie

London Here I Come!

2009-10-20T17:12:00.003-04:00

I have been accepted into The British American Drama Academy for the Spring 2010 semester. I am so excited! I'll be in London from early January to mid-April, so any suggestions of where to go/shop/eat/etc as well as for other places in Europe I should travel during my mid-term break and possibly after my semester ends as well are greatly appreciated! :)

{vintage red sweater, american apparel skirt, h&m jacket and tights,
steve madden flats, street fair scarf}

...at the time of this picture, I had not yet been informed of my acceptance. Hence the lack of ecstasy on my face ;)

Also... how the heck is a girl supposed to pack her clothes? I'm goning to be forced to be selective. This is going to be TOUGH!

If you need something to put a smile on your face too: here's this, it's great.

For now, back to the grind. Guess I still have to finish this semester in Ithaca, huh?

Regards,
Freddie

A Typical Sunday, or proof that my life is generally mundane

2009-10-19T01:49:00.005-04:00

Thanks to Rebbecca, The Clothes Horse, who is always a fabulous source of inspiration on many fronts, I decided to do a picture an hour post. I thought about doing it yesterday but was rather distracted by my audition and didn't remember until about 3pm. I slept (or lied with my eyes closed trying to convince myself I was asleep) most of the bus ride back to Ithaca anyway, so that wouldn't have been very interesting. It is also very dark on the bus.

Anyway, said audition wasn't bad. Could have been better, but it was alright. I will find out the results sometime this coming week. For the time being, I've barely been back a day and have managed to overextend and over commit myself already. No surprise there. I suppose it will distract me? Hope to be able to check in with all of your blogs soon.

Anyway, on to the incredibly boring, if I do say so myself, pictures.

10AM: Morning Coffee.

11AM: Time for some reading.

12PM: Making progress...

1PM: An improvised lunch. The cupboard was quite bare. Tastier than it looks, I promise ;)

An English muffin: 1/2 laughing cow cheese and lox, 1/2 peanut butter, pumpkin butter, and cinnamon

2PM: Still hungry... and reading Charle's Mee's Paradise Park.

3PM: More reading? Oh joy!

4PM: Wegman's run- hooray!

5PM: A full cart.

6PM: Laundry time.

7PM: Dinner made from my new groceries: Chicken breast with lemon, garlic and tarragon and hearty quinoa with sautéed apples and almonds.

This was the only a-typical part of my day. This is probably the most complicated meal I've cooked all year. But now I have quinoa to last the week!

8PM: Catching up on Project Runway over some dessert.

9PM: Clothes hanging to dry.

10PM: It's a different article, I promise!

11PM: More of the same, plus a cup of tea.

12AM: Catching up on last week's missed lectures.

1AM: Post shower poofis. Mine is the disgruntled pink.

2AM: Time for me to go to sleep.

I wanted to include some of the text from Charle's Mee's Paradise Park in this post, but it's just too late and I need to go to bed. However, if you happen to find yourself with free time (what?) and an interest in absurdism, check it out. I found it quite interesting.

Anyway, I hope to do more of these in the future. Perhaps they will help me to discover the interesting moments in everyday activities?

Regards,
Freddie

p.s. I do notice Rebbecca often does these when she travels. Perhaps next time I will give it a go. Plane rides are much more interesting than bus rides for me though as I can't do anything on the bus or else I'll get sick - alas.

In case you were worried

2009-10-16T19:03:00.002-04:00

Just in case anyone was worried, it took me the week to fall in love with New York City all over again. (Though I still can't abide by people walking too slowly in front of me. Not that I ever could.) Of course, my audition is tomorrow and then it's back to Ithaca and the daily grind. I'll see you when I see you but I do hope it is sooner rather than later.

{racked, plateoftheday}

{roboppy, benjaminsiegel}

{wholu, roboppy}

{manhattan street project, nytimes}

{manhattan street project}

{jpellgen, revengingangel}

Regards,
Freddie

P.S. I adore this blog I just found.

Don't Call Your Wife "Baby"

2009-10-16T00:44:00.003-04:00

So, yesterday (ok, two days ago if you want to get technical since it's after midnight) I went to dinner and the theater with my parents, the perfect excuse to wear my new 1950s dress from the vintage show ;) We saw David Mamet's Oleanna. It was good, though more of a credit to the writing than the actors I think. Mamet's language is incredibly tough (so many short phrases and interruptions) and I could feel Stiles and Pullman struggling with it in the first scene. However, as the play progressed, they picked up the pace and I was fairly impressed with both of their performances, especially by Stiles because I think I expected her not to be very good and she did a nice job. What makes the play so interesting (the whole thing takes place in the Professor's office and only between these two characters) is the intricate power relationship depicted and how it is so carefully manipulated by Stiles' character Carol. It's amazing how a mere accusation can destroy a career. We actually had a talk back with Benjamin Brafman, a big shot lawyer, after the show (run by the very funny Lionel) which was really interesting. Stephanie March was slated to be at the talk back too and wasn't which was kind of a bummer.

Anyway, you don't really care about all that, do you? ;)

You care about this:

{vintage dress, mom's belt, vintage dooney and burke bag, mom's tights (which didn't stay up very well... haha), shoes purchased by mom at housing works for $6}

And my new glasses from Fabulous Fanny's circa the 1960s, and made in France!

Also should have taken a heel close up for you. I rarely wear heels and in theory I would love to wear them more, but in practice, well, probably not so much. These are a little big (my mom's feet are a tad bigger than mine) but were just so perfect with this outfit ;)

Anyway, these pictures were taken an hour or two before it suddenly became winter in NYC. Then today, boy was the weather nasty! I thought I left Ithaca for the week. haha. Though apparently, we had the first snowfall in Ithaca today and I missed it! ... Which I kind of don't mind considering it's October. I'll catch the next one ;P

However, the weather didn't prevent me from getting the pinkberry I planned on indulging in today. So good. And they have a new policy- instead of separate prices per number of toppings (and the max is 3) you pay one price for the size and flavor of yogurt and can get as many as will fit in the cup! I got four toppings :D

I also had a mini reunion with a bunch of the Public Theater crew from the summer up at Barnard this evening to see Tartuffe (yep I not only brought the weather back from college for my break, I also saw college theater, haha). One of the twinterns was stage managing and the other had designed the set. It was great to see everyone and the production was a fun spin on the classic, but the set was definitely the highlight of the show-- it was awesome!

Regards,
Freddie

p.s. If you ever needed more food porn in your life (and I mean, who doesn't) go to this site. It's amazing. It even generally links to recipes (which are generally on foodie blogs, aka love) so if you're really ambitious you can make the food yourself! ;)

{tastespotting.com}

p.p.s. What on earth is going on with facebook?? Did somebody just hack it?? :o

My Mother's Closet

2009-10-15T01:37:00.005-04:00

I am incredibly lucky to have a very chic and stylish mother who is almost exactly the same size as me. I've always liked borrowing her clothes, and as I've gotten older there's more I want to, and can, borrow, and we even have a couple of items that were purchased with the intent to share. Though I must say that's a bit difficult when I'm up in Ithaca and she's in New York City.

The most recent spin on this is that, lately, mi madre has been showing up places wearing my clothes! When she and my papa came to see me in my show, mama appeared in an old jacket of mine I had left at home. It looked better on her than it ever did on me, so I guess you win some and lose others, haha. Then, when I got home this week, she was wearing a threadless tee of mine, also left at home, but only because of a small, but noticeable, stain. Her comment? "Still perfectly acceptable for doing the laundry in" haha. My mom and I also get along rather well if you haven't guessed. It's nice ;)

Anyway, being home for a week does mean I can take advantage of her wardrobe, and I'm certainly doing my best!

Also, my camera has got itself on some sort of setting where it automatically takes three pictures in a row (I should figure out how to turn this on and off when I want to, haha) and I thought this sequence was kind of priceless.

"Yeah... taking a picture."

"Oh hey camera, are you done?"

"Yep, I guess so!"
haha

{Mom's jacket, mom's scarf, AG jeans - a hand-me down for mom, vintage boots, vintage Dooney and Burke bag from the vintage show, vintage hat from Cheap Jack's a few years ago}

Some of the clothes I borrow my incredibly generous mother will let me keep or I will borrow for an, erm... extremely extended period of time so they sort of just become mine, haha. Though I know there are some things I am not allowed to do that with and this jacket is one of them. It will forever be on my wish list but never mine ;)

The day I wore this, my mom was actually wearing my jacket (the same one I mentioned above), a pair of my brown corduroys I had given her (see, it works both ways!) because they fit her better, and my scarf. We actually swapped scarves as we were walking out of the house because we realized the other person's scarf went better with our respective outfits ;) I had been wearing this one (1st outfit post flashback, that hat too!) because it was the only one I brought home from school.

You can also see how long my hair has gotten! Eegads! And we have some pre and post bang trim action going on over here.

"Oh hi, it's windy"

"This is kinda fun!"

"Ok! I take that back! Time to go home!"

{uniqlo jacket purchased as a "share" item with mom, target dress and leggings, orva boots, matt & nat bag - another self imposed permanent hand-me down from mom haha}

Also, today I purchased something I've been wanting for a while... and perhaps it will help rekindle my desire to take outfit photos? And inspire more outfits? Maybe? We'll see. Anyway, he's nothing fancy but he'll sure do the trick, and the price was pretty good too!

And uh... there may or not be another purchase or two in that picture... the new H&M is right next to the 4/5/6 train stop at 86th street. It's cruel! Good thing that didn't happen until after I went to college.

Also went to dinner and saw Oleanna with the parents tonight- more on that tomorrow!

Regards,
Freddie

Blue Cocoon

2009-10-13T11:24:00.003-04:00

Have you ever come across a photographer who's work just makes your heart stop when you see it? Well, going through my favorite etsy sellers (mostly to look at vintage clothing) last night, I did. Obviously I knew what I was doing when I favorited this girl way back whenever, because her work is completely enthralling. It is ethereal and mystical, with just the right touch of gentle eroticism. It's beautiful.

She's also currently doing a BOGO (buy one get one free) sale of her prints and I am sorely tempted. My room next year is really big and white (I am obsessed with the apartment we found and even though it's almost a whole year away I can't wait to take lots of pictures of it and in it) and would look beautiful with some of her prints on the walls, but I know after the cost of shipping and buying frames for them, well, I really can't justify the purchase at the moment. Or maybe I can... Also, how to choose just two?

Regards,
Freddie

Whoops.

2009-10-12T22:09:00.004-04:00

So, I didn't get to take the pictures of my lovely vintage show outfit today because I was out of the house until after dark on an unplanned adventure...

This morning (ok, early afternoon, but that counts as morning on vacation, right?), I went to the gym to get my bike on. I like to ride the stationary bike because I can read a book while I ride and as you may know, I wear reading glasses. Anyway, I finished my ride (and was getting to a really good, near the end, part of my book too) hook my glasses over my shirt (like you do with sunglasses, you know) and went to stretch. Then I pulled out a mat to do some crunches and was about to sit down, but oh hey... where are my glasses? Answer: under the mat. Smushed. Whoops. One of the ear pieces was essentially at a 90 degree angle to the lenses (impressively still attached) and the other was not much better off. I do have a second pair of glasses, but of course, they're at school. So, new glasses quickly became the project of the day.

After a shower and some lunch, my mom and I headed down to Fabulous Fanny's, a veritable hipster and gay guy's haven of vintage glasses frames. They had a lot of cool stuff, but a lot of the more "out there" looks didn't sit so well on my face, haha.

{a sampling of their selection via the online catalog. They carry sunglasses too}

Glasses are a big commitment because you wear them ALL the time (I know you don't see mine much on the blog, but I wear them in class and when I'm doing homework which is probably about 85% of my life, haha) so after an excessive amount of hemming and hawing I chose a pair and we headed over to their recommend place to get the lenses, in Chinatown. My mom decided this was walking distance... and it was... but it was quite the hike. A hike which involved lusting after some beautiful boots I wasn't willing to spend $125 on and some free sampling at Whole Foods.

Eye exam in Chinatown: only minorly sketchy. Of course, they had the lens available for one of my eyes, but not the other. boo. So the ready in one hour option was alas not an option pour moi. While waiting to get my eyes checked, I also got a text from my friend inviting me over for pizza and ice cream cake for her birthday. At 6. It was 5 and I was waiting for my eye exam... in Chinatown... uhhh... but luckily, the doctor was able to see me shortly and we were done at about 5:20. Since the glasses couldn't be ready in an hour anyway I decided to forgo an early dinner and dessert at Vegetarian Dim Sum House and Chinatown Ice Cream factory and whip uptown at super speed.

I was also able to bend my glasses back far enough (that was scary- I was sure they were going to break!) to use for tonight and tomorrow. Though right now I look like this:

As you can see, I am also much in need of a bang trim. Thankfully, both the bang trim and picking up the new glasses are on the agenda for tomorrow (and maybe that Dim Sum/Ice Cream trip after all).

So much for a day where I had nothing to do, huh?

Regards,
Freddie

For Spacious Skies

2009-10-10T23:29:00.004-04:00

So I didn't plan for my return after my unannounced, but very forewarned, hiatus (it seems like it's been way longer than a month and 10 days... a lot can happen in that amount of time I suppose) to happen when I was in such an odd and deep mood... but I did plan for the return to be today, so blame it on the man on the subway. Or just the shock my return to the New York City atmosphere has provided in general.

There was just something just so profoundly beautiful and sad about the little Asian man playing America the Beautiful on his Casio electric saxophone on the train, while a mother tried to control her five small, rowdy children and a bunch of teenagers yapped and fought. And then when the man ended, he stood there for a moment, eyes closed, as if deeply moved by his final high note (or maybe just out of breath). And all that was going on around him with people caught up in their own worlds, not paying attention to him. Though to her credit, one girl gave him some change. Not me.

{yes, this is actually him. I googled "man playing electric sax on subway" !}

There's just something different, and sad, about being back in the city. Like it's changed in the past 2 months since I was here. Which is silly... but maybe it's true. Or maybe it's me who's different? I will always love New York, but I just find myself more saddened and disgusted by a lot of what I see than I have ever been before. Maybe I'm finally noticing the recession? Or maybe that's just an excuse.

Sorry, I'm not describing any of this very well... I'm not terribly poetic, I just needed some place to write it down. Perhaps that's one of the reasons I'm finding my playwriting class this semester so terribly challenging? The whole, not so poetic thing? hah.

Anyway, I had planned to post again today anyway for a few reasons:

1. I have missed blogging and the blog world so! Though I'm still poking around some foodie blogs now and then, it's not quite the same as when I'm posting and reading my favorite fashion blogs too.

2. Today was the first full day of my self imposed, elongated fall break. We do have this coming Monday and Tuesday off of school and I had been planning to come home, but I also have an audition (for that elusive abroad program... while a lot can happen in a month and 10 days, finding out about this was not one of the things that did) and was going to have to go back to school Tuesday evening, come back to the city Friday evening, and then go back to school again on Sunday o_o The number of hours on a bus (and yes, I get car sick) that would mean = not fun. And so, I have decided to take the whole week off! I firmly believe I have earned it.

{ShortLine buses: a necessary evil}

3. Today my mom and I also went to the Manhattan Vintage Show! It seems to have become a sort of tradition for us. Sadly, they don't allow pictures in the show, but I will have pictures of the bag and dress I bought sometime soon :) We did our best to be conservative with our spending but I'm really happy with my two pieces. You can also see pictures from some past shows here (if you look at the 8th picture in the April 2007 show -- I am the owner of that dress. I wore it to my high school graduation and that was not an example of conservative spending ;) haha) I think this is my third time attending the show, or fourth if you count the time my mom went and sent me picture messages of things.

{Inside the Metropolitan Pavilion during the Manhattan Vintage Show}

4. Somehow, according to sitemeter, my little corner of the virtual world had 472 visits last week! What? I haven't updated in more than a month... and even when I was updating, I never had more than 100 visitors in a week... often more like 40. Looks like a lot of people have been searching for pictures of sunflowers on google images lately. hahaha. Statistics are so very interesting and amusing.

Anyway, I keep saying that so much has happened in the past month... so, what exactly has happened?

1. My show opened, played 7 performances, and closed.

2. I auditioned for this show and didn't get in (don't worry, I made a fairly quick recovery)

3. I dropped a class (New York Women) and added another one (Costume History)

4. I took some tests, presented some scenes, wrote some papers, did a lot of reading, wrote part of a play, scrapped part of a play, went out a lot, stayed in a lot, pulled two almost all-nighters, made some new friends, saw a dance concert, a show (Love Song), and an improv show, signed my lease for a beautiful apartment to live in next year, finished my abroad application... and well, a whole lot more. This was really not as interesting as I intended it to be, but point being: I've been a busy bee. Also in just over a month: the weather can go from appropriate for sundresses/shorts/t-shirts to requiring tights/pants/jackets... we've had a frost advisory in Ithaca already folks, how insane is that?

{ok, so it doesn't exactly look like this yet, but you know}

5. A lot happened in the world too of course (Obama's peace prize anyone?). But we don't need to get into all that.

OK THAT WAS A LOT OF WORDS. Should I stop now and wait until I have interesting fashion-y content to share? I think so. Also, my apologies for all the random, uncredited pictures- I saw how many words I had written up there and knew I needed to break it all up a bit. haha.

I hope to catch up on some of your blogs this week too.

Kudos if you made it through any of this.

Regards,
Freddie

Chocolate Sunflowers (or some other equally uninspired post title)

2009-08-31T23:51:00.005-04:00

Wow, two days in a row? Not gonna lie, I'm kind of impressed. However, this has got to be a quick post since tomorrow is my crazy day... eek. Gonna try to do a little more reading for Queer Performance (which I had for the first time today and I think is gonna be super interesting) and then go to bed. Setting the alarm for the dreaded hour of 8am. Ack. It's been a long time since I woke up that early... or since I went to sleep early for that matter. Hopefully I can manage.

I also had dance ("dance technique 1" ie: the dance class for baby baby beginners) for the first time today and I'm super psyched for it! The teacher is a crazy modern dancer who I worked with when I assistant stage managed the dance concert in the spring, and even though she moves a little fast, she's always willing to show stuff again and I think it'll be a fun break in my day and a good way to get in some nice aerobic exercise too... because I have a feeling my recent going to the gym kick is halting about... well... now. No time. Go figure.

Anyway, I wore this (but changed for dance):

{hanes men's undershirt, coup de cour skirt, h&m cardigan, mom's belt, target shoes}
I don't mean to look so disgruntled, really, I promise.

What's with me and the white and the brown and the yellow lately? I really don't know... honestly, when you say the colors "white, yellow, and brown" they don't sound terribly interesting or appealing, but for whatever reason I'm really liking them lately. Also totally matched my rehearsal bike again (calling it mine because I ride it across the stage in one 30 second scene change, haha) and still wanted to take a picture with it.

Anyway, eye candy for today (as you can see I'm enjoying this new little format and content idea) is pretty things that are brown, yellow and white. How creative of me! ;P

Chocolate. I love chocolate. Almost any kind will do, but I believe it's at it's best in dark and molten cake forms.

{smh.com.au, foodisluv}

The chocolate bar I am particularly savoring at the moment is this. Delish.

Sunflowers. Probably my favorite flower. I think.

{heavypiano.com, prajna photography}

Puppies and kittens. Yeah, this is totally and completely shameless. Deal with it. You know you can't resist baby animals. It's just not possible.

{kecute, oregon city classifieds, must love dogs}

{piccat.com, great-pictures-of-cats.com, the cute report}

And then there are polar bears. Does anyone remember Knut? I got to see him in person in the summer of 2007 but he was already starting to get a little less cute than he was here:

{Berlin Zoo}

Yeah... ok... uh... thanks for indulging me with that last part. Shall we all move along now and pretend that never happened? Ok, thanks.

Regards,
Freddie

Procrastination

2009-08-30T19:21:00.007-04:00

So I'm starting to remember how I managed to post during the school year last year... it's yet another way to procrastinate. haha. It's funny how the skill (because we all know it is one) of procrastination has returned to me so easily and effortlessly.

Anyway, this was the outfit for class day two. Granted I only had to go to one class, Psychology of Entertainment Media, from 12:20-1:10pm. It's far away though. My Thursdays and Fridays are really pretty great... but I make up for it the rest of the week, I promise. And of course all I've experienced so far is a Thursday and Friday so wish me luck with this upcoming Monday-Wednesday. My Tuesdays are especially killer. oy.

{target top, lucky jeans, vintage boots, laila rowe earrings which I lost at the gym midday :( }

I seem to be drawn to a much more muted color palette lately. And I'm also really enjoying ponytails.
Non sequitur: There is a vintage bike we've been using in rehearsal that I really wanted to photograph this outfit with (the bike is brown with white wheels) but somehow I don't think I could explain that one to the rest of the cast, my director, and stage manager. haha. The lighting in the black box is also not very good.

Anyway, no foodie pictures today but I have really been enjoying cooking for myself. I managed to get to Wegman's over the weekend and the past two nights I had corn on the cob. So delicious. I wish I had bought more. I also made sweet potato fries... and asparagus. And since my first class isn't until 12:20 tomorrow (ok I know that doesn't make it sound like too rough a day, haha) I kind of want to try making something like this, this, or this for brunch :o We'll see.

Ok, I lied. Two pictures:

{Mark Bittman's Potato-Asparagus Frittata, Chard and Onion Omelet from Serious Eats}

Anyway, thanks for the encouragement about keeping up the blog during the school year. I really do want to so we shall see what happens.

And finally, a little more eye candy (but not food this time -- shock!) for the day, because I'm pretty sure some of you have to be as excited as I am for these two films to come out.

{Where The Wild Things Are stills courtesy of allmoviephoto.com}

{Alice in Wonderland still courtesy of USA Today}
More here.

And some inspiration taken from these films on Refinery 29. (A big source of fashion news and inspiration for me now because they send me e-mails. haha)

Alrighty, time to actually buckle down and write this "what I learned from my summer internship and what I hope to accomplish at BADA" shenanigan so my professor will write me a recommendation. I hate writing things like this because I always feel they sound bullshitty and never sincere (even when they really are). Alas, I'm sure I'll come up with something... I always do... eventually. haha.

Regards,
Freddie

Falling into, well... Fall

2009-08-26T23:40:00.015-04:00

It really is hard to believe that I'm back at school and classes have now begun. I'm still drifting about in a sort of weird, in-limbo mood which has left me not terribly inspired to blog and all that jazz. The weather, too, is not cooperating, because after about 2 or 3 hot summer days, Autumn seems to have hit Ithaca. Not surprising really, but I feel like it took so much longer last year. And I guess I'm exaggerating when I say Autumn, but the weather certainly isn't hot anymore, it's getting into the 50s in the evening and only barely eeking above 70 during the day... and that if we're lucky. While I had mentioned before that I was getting excited about fall clothes, I'm still looking for ways to stretch those summer pieces, especially some new ones I haven't even gotten to show you yet!

Combine this with the urge I still retain from childhood to wear something special on the "first day of school" (which is a little hard to pinpoint in college considering I've been physically at school for almost 2 weeks (!!), and although my first day of classes was today, I won't have had all of my classes until next Tuesday) and I came up with this:

{? white long sleeve, silence & noise for urban dress, Forever 21 bracelet,
shoegasm sandals, German Tausche bag}

This is actually the dress I wore to my grandparent's wedding anniversary, so it has the option of looking fancier as well. I like that. I've got to get a picture of the back, it's quite nice. And I do love this bag, which I got in Berlin a few years ago, but it's really not big enough to use on any class day other than the first ;)

Though... not gonna lie, even with the long sleeved shirt underneath (and a cardigan on later too) , I was kinda cold! Especially in our black box theater where I had a two hour class and then four hours of rehearsal in the evening. eek.

Anyway, we all saw this coming, but I have a feeling I may be trailing away from the blog world for a while... we shall see. It's a shame though since I so enjoy the community I've started to become a part of, but I just know I am not going to be able to keep up, especially after how pooped I feel after my first day, a day which was really not that challenging, especially compared to what's to come! Maybe the weather (in addition to the cold, it's getting rainy too!) is contributing to this off-crankyish mood I've been in? Or maybe it's nerves about upcoming auditions for our production of Romeo and Juliet... or for the London program I'm applying to go abroad to in the spring... or just for the semester in general? Hah, I apologize... no one wants to listen to me whine about nothing in particular ;P

We'll see, I'm sure I'll be back at some point (maybe sooner rather than later, who knows?).

Meanwhile, I'll leave you with some eye-candy. Looks like I'm not the only fashion blogger with foodie inclinations as of late. Check out this article on Refinery 29!

Special shout-out to Blushing Ambition, who's blog I'm already a follower of. She has such great, simple pictures of both food and clothing--I love them!

Amelia has been sporting some gorgeous foodie pictures lately too! (And some cute back-to-school-ish looks as well)

Then there are the always lovely latte pictures provided by notebookdoodles:

And the many incredibly tantalizing Asian goodnesses photographed by Yulanda of little thoughts:

Seriously, go look at this post right now. It's kind of ridiculous. (In a good way of course)

Even the famous Cherry Blossom Girl has been getting her foodie on as of late... and in New York City too. Not gonna lie, some of those photos made me glow with hometown pride ;)

P.S. Please note that these beautiful pictures all belong to their aforementioned bloggers! (And if any of you don't want me using your pictures in this way just let me know and I'll take them down pronto!)

Funny, you know, putting those last pictures together (much of which I did during downtime in rehearsal... haha, shhh) was rather nice... perhaps the first step out of my blogging semi-rut? Maybe I just need to start posting about other people's pretty pictures rather than taking my own... which are never quite so nice (and I'm just not ready or able to invest in a fancy camera or tripod or a magic sun to shine above Ithaca at the moment, haha) and often take me more time anyway? Like I said, we shall see... but until then, try not to forgot about me, and I'll do the same for you ;)

Regards,
Freddie

Surreal (or perhaps, in retrospect, this post should be titled: Upgrade, in bold)

2009-08-20T21:51:00.007-04:00

I've been back at school for almost a week now (ok, not quite, I got here this past Saturday) and have been in rehearsal for four days (though I had Tuesday off) and I'm still having trouble wrapping my head around the fact that in one week, I will officially begin my Junior year... and also that tomorrow is Friday, the beginning of the crazy time that is freshman orientation (and the upperclassman's excuse to party as much as possible before classes begin). I don't know if I'm ready for this. Living off campus in an apartment is so weird and different. I can go home from rehearsal and make lunch and dinner for myself (something I do hope to keep up during the semester) and I also now walk home in the opposite direction... away from campus rather than across campus in the 20+ minute trek I did at least once, if not twice, a day, every day, for the past two years. The beginning of last year didn't feel this weird... I just can't explain it. Not that it's bad weird really, but it's not really good weird either, at least not yet.

Anyway, enough of my internal, unexplainable crisis... what IS for sure good about my off-campus apartment is my room. Last year, when we were figuring out housing, I agreed to pay a little more rent to have the bigger room and was starting to think it might not be worth it... but I have now confirmed that it is. It so is. Mostly because of my closet. Actually, almost completely because of my closet. My closet is amazing. I love it. It may not look like much to you... but this is the biggest closet I have probably ever had in my life. My clothes have room to breathe (although I realize it may not look like they do... I promise you they have more breathing room than they have ever had before) and I'm so in love I had to show it off:

Yes, my closest is big enough to have two doors. Last year I had a closet with one curtain. Now I have not one, but two, doors. Upgrade.

Also, note the new hat set-up. Remember the old one? Well that was pretty nice, but this too is an upgrade. (And not just because I seem to have acquired a slightly exorbitant number of hats in half a year, haha)

Seriously, I love my closet so much it almost makes me not want to go abroad second semester so I can live here for more than just four months (fourth months? Seriously? That sounds SO short) but obviously the key word here is almost.

Though please do note these are not all my clothes... I also have a chest of drawers, with two extra plastic storage drawers on top... as well as 3 coats (this one, this one, and this one) stored in our hallway coat closet. Yes, we have a coat closet. Upgrade!

And while I'm not such a fan of this outfit picture... (Something about my face and neck is somewhat off... I swear I didn't suddenly turn into a ghost upon arrival in Ithaca! ...Though I suppose that wouldn't be all that surprising... haha) I had to show it to you for a few reasons. 1. For the fact that the outfits I've been wearing the past few days have not been all that different from what I wore in the park this summer, haha, 2. To show off these lovely tights that my mom bought me in Scotland over the summer that I have not had the opportunity to wear until now (it's hot outside, and in my apartment, but super chilly in the performing arts building!) , and 3. Well, for the sake of it being the first outfit picture taken in my new apartment of course!

{men's undershirt, urban short-alls, tights purchased by my momma in scotland,
vintage sam & libby ballet flats}

Anyway, unpacking into this lovely closet was also kind of fun because I rediscovered a lot of clothes I had sort of forgotten about... kind of making me feel ready for fall-attire (and making me realize I have way too many gym/sleep t-shirts and should get rid of some), but I know I need not rush it, fall will be here (and then over) before I know it. Eek.

Anyway, look forward to more room and apartment pictures, as well as a return to more fashion content (rather than existential crisis type content, haha), and probably some foodie content too.

Until then,

Regards,
Freddie

P.S. While on the subject of wearing similar outfits to those I wore in the park this summer, I felt my fellow interns and my bosses (who have all read this blog, haha) would appreciate my sharing this picture. This picture also shows you how badly I needed that bang trim, haha.

{vintage polo-type shirt, urban overalls, headband by me, target tights, converse,
incredibly stylish first-aid blanket handbag}

P.P.S. Someone living within earshot has been serenading me on the cello for the past two nights (ok not really... but I can pretend). How great is that? (And while I enjoy it while awake, thankfully I'm pretty sure I can't hear it with the windows closed, or at least they've been done by the time I want to go to bed).

Ok, now that's actually all. Regards again and goodnight.

Things That Have Happened Recently

2009-08-13T22:40:00.003-04:00

1. I read the big hunky September issue of Elle and folded down a million pages with things that I liked.

2. I watched the first preview of The Bacchae and saw Mikhail Baryshnikov there :o

playbill.com, politics and prose

2. I had my last day of work, which was sad, but we made commemorative brownie sundaes. Then I went home and made a lovely pizza (complete with caramelized onions, mushrooms and artichoke hearts... yum!) for dinner with three of my close friends who I may not see again for quite a while.

3. I got my bangs cut (oh my goodness, I can see again!) and got a manicure and pedicure to make myself feel groomed and human again after this summer of hard work. Though I have to say, I'm not sure I remember how to dress not for the park now! Ok, well that's not really true... but I haven't had the same outfit-putting-together zeal (the zeal that brought tears to my eyes when I heard about the summer dress code... yeah... remember that? haha) I had before the summer started. Maybe it's just because I have a lot on my mind what with having to go back to Ithaca on SATURDAY. And I haven't packed yet. At all. Tomorrow is going to suck. Perhaps when I return to school I'll get back in the swing of fashion-blogging and reading your blogs which I have been terrible about lately, but I don't know. Lately I'm not really sure where I'm going with this blog, but I do know that I'm proud of keeping up with it for as long as I have and I really do enjoy it. I enjoy keeping up with all your blogs too, but I think I get overwhelmed with how many unread posts there on on my blog roll and get scared to look at any because of the daunting nature of the task... maybe I need to just do a big purge and clear out some blogs... or not worry about catching up and just start reading new posts from now on. We'll see. The blogs I have been reading lately have all been foodie related (perhaps I am turning in to Freddie: the foodie fashionista? haha) but perhaps part of that has to do with mentally preparing myself for the massive grocery shopping that will be done on Saturday/Sunday to stock up my new apartment and the cooking for myself that will follow for next semester and also the coming years.

I did wear an outfit I considered blogging today, but the weather was gloomy and no good for picture-taking and then half a brand new jar of salsa exploded all over me and my kitchen (including inside an open drawer of utensils... ugh) as I was making lunch! The clothes have been saved, but yes... photo opportunity: not so much. Anyway, I did sport a belated birthday gift my friend (my lovely "twin" who of course bought almost exactly the same things for herself- her headband is black-hahaha love it) brought to our pizza party.

forever21.com
and a bracelet I couldn't find a picture of. Oh yeah, and I wore clothes too :P

...the trip to the Forever21 site to look for pictures makes me want to further exam this "Cirque 21" (how can I resist something with Cirque in the name?) nonsense and decide if it's really cool or kind of frightening. Perhaps more on that later? ...

Anyway, props if you read all that. Something fashion related here soon. I think.

Regards,
Freddie

P.S. I'm not going to have internet in my new apartment until next Wednesday... ahhh! But knowing me I'll probably end up staying in the greenroom of the theater building as late at night as they let me so I can use campus internet, haha.

Short on Time and Inspiration

2009-08-05T22:50:00.005-04:00

So, tech has begun again, this time for The Bacchae, which means I'm back to working late every other night, as well as one day on weekends... however, this schedule isn't going to last me long as I return to Ithaca Saturday the 15th! Boy has summer flown by. My busy work schedule combined with trying to fit in as much NYC and friend seeing activity as possible before I go has meant little time for blog reading and even thinking about fashion-y things. (Though I'll admit my latest free-time obsession seems to be browsing the blogs of healthy-foodie types who eat lots of almond butter and drink green smoothies. Not that I'm about to start putting green things in the blender, but they have a lot of other good food ideas too... and making food has been a big consumer of time in my house lately--it's a necessity but also enjoyable). I'm sure I'll jump back on the fashion blog band wagon soon, but for now I'm satisfying my fashion bug by admiring the outfits of some of the fashionable people at work, namely the costume designer, her assistant and the director's assistant. All three are rather indie/hipster/trendy in their style, but as I have said at work: fashintern approved. haha.

Today's wears: straw fedoras and straw cowboy hats (sported by a lot of the cast as well), an awesome striped Laura Ashley jumpsuit, a sundress reminiscent of an African country's flag, as well as a menswear outfit I would happily sport myself. Said outfit inspired a polyvore set to avoid a picture-less post and because, well, I liked it ;)

His version:
Navy and white gingham top with a flared/bell shaped cut, thin very light wash jeans or trousers rolled up a little, beat-up cream colored converse, a simple, slightly floppy straw hat with a black band.

My version:

(I couldn't decide on the pants)

Also cool on the fashion front at work: the costumes for The Bacchae are totally weird (the chorus is all in spotted, hand painted boots and effervescent orange jumpsuits) but totally fabulous! Anyway, if you're in the New York area and want to see the show (which you should want to do: it's really bizarre, really free and really cool) - previews start August 11th and the earlier in the run you try to get tickets either via the virtual line or the real line, the easier it is like to be.

Regards,
Freddie

P.S. my black high-tops arrived from zappos and I am very happy with the purchase, studs (which may have to wait due to aforementioned time constraints) or no studs, especially when worn with black tights.

Latest Obsessions (or trends I was just really late to pick up on)

2009-07-26T01:26:00.005-04:00

So I wrote about half, maybe a little less, off this post pretty late last night and for some reason firefox pooped out on me and I lost everything but the title. Ugh. That has never happened before. Guess it'll teach me to save more often. Anyway, let's try again:

1. Lately I have not been able to get my mind off of black high top converse, particularly ones with studs. Now, these shoes are old news. Free People sells their own schamncy, vintagey, distressed, overpriced version and fashion toast finished her DIY sneaks in January. I always thought the shoes were pretty cool but never thought any of the stud and leather type trends that swept through this summer were up my generally girly, and often a little bit prim, alley. Besides, the last time I wore converse was like sophomore or junior year of high school... and my idea of style 5 years ago was jeans, some kind of witty t-shirt or an e-bayed lacoste polo, and a newsboy cap. Not that there's anything wrong with that... but I have come quite a ways since then ;) So why, all of a sudden, half the time I reach for an outfit for work, do I find myself staring at my shoe collection waiting for a pair of said black sneaks to magically appear, eventually to settle for something else and leave the house somewhat unsatisfied? I don't know, but I do know that these:

{zappos}

are now en route from zappos to me and it's only going to be laziness or lack of time that prevents me from studding them up. Anyone know where to get little pyramid studs in NYC? I'm sure they're somewhere and I also don't really want to pay shipping. hahaha.

I also know I'm not the only girly girl recently thinking about adding some "edge" to her look. The adorable Blooming Leopold, sis of Liebemarlene, wrote about this recently too!

2. Zooey Deschanel. You either love her or you hate her because she's the perfect little ball of indie, cliche, cuteness. Until recently, all I really knew about her was that she had a pretty enjoyable album and good bangs. Yes, my bangs were "inspired" by hers when I got them cut in November because the guy who cuts my hair told me to look for pictures of her. However, I was busier showing him pictures of Anna Friel. I still need to see the last three episodes of Pushing Daisies by the way. Oh man, still sad about the short life of that show. Anyway, I guess my spiral into Zooey love began a few weeks ago when some of the other interns at work were playing "let's cast the movie of our lives" and it took them all of 0.03764 seconds to decide that Zooey Deschanel would play me. She's cute and pretty, so I took it as a compliment. Now, thanks to her latest movie, (500) Days of Summer, she's all over every magazine and the free papers I get every morning to do the crosswords in and I just can't get enough. Yes, I do find myself getting annoyed by her indie-greatness at times, but she so freakin' adorable that every time I look at something like this picture from August's issue of InStyle,

I forget about all that.

3. Ok, so this one is less of a trend I was slow at picking up on, and not a new obsession for me, but I think we all know I love children's clothes. And who knows why I get e-mails from j.crew, particularly about crew cuts (even though I'm little they're still not making that stuff in my size, alas) but I just got word from them about their fantastic new back to school arrivals.

{crewcuts}

yeah the pallet is a little monochrome and pink... but come on, look at these kids and these clothes- especially the girl in the pink dress and glasses... they're killing me!

Philip Lim also always has a to die for children's collection.
Fall 2009:

Spring 2009:

{Philip Lim}
(click to enlarge)

*swoon* His collections also make me want to find a little Asian girl to steal and take home. I mean... umm, what?

Anyway, in other news, last night I went out for some nice Italian food with friends and was discussing my awesome urban outfitters finds with one of my friends who enjoyed the same urban super sale that I did (the "twin" of mine seen behind me in the birthday picture here) and after a little discussion about how we were both excited about a particular dress we got... we realized we were excited about the same item... she got this dress too! hahaha. We also both have this headband (the giant dwarf flower one) though in different colors... those we bought together. We're often kind of the same person. I guess that's alright ;)

Finally, I also just discovered that I have 2 followers on blogger and 6 on google reader. Woohoo, thanks guys! You rock! :)

Regards,
Freddie

Ignorance is Bliss

2009-07-19T23:05:00.005-04:00

So, I'm working on catching up on all of your blogs and while I've still got a LONG way to go (who knows if I'll ever actually catch up... bloglines says I still have 1746 posts to read... WAH! Though... I think I've done it before, haha.) it's been great- like coming home again ;) And Speaking of coming home again (nice segway, right? :P), my parents are back, and although I've developed a certain fondness for grocery shopping and lunch making over the past two weeks, it's nice to have them home.

Unfortunately, I didn't discover until yesterday evening (they got home this morning) how good their bedroom is for taking outfit photos! It seems to be the brightest room in the house. Oh well- I did get to utilize it this once to show off one of the new dresses from urban... just don't tell them I stood on their bed wearing shoes... haha.

{hawk for urban outfitters dress, h&m headband and sweater, shoegasm shoes}

Yes the dress does rather match their pillows and bedspread... and yes I did change into it just to go and see Harry Potter (hence the sweater- it's certainly not needed outside) because I was so excited to wear it. My purchase of this dress feels especially meant to be because I had actually spotted it and tried it on when I was passing through urban with a friend a few weeks ago. However, the small was a bit too big in the bust and I didn't feel I could justify the $30 if it didn't fit just right. I searched the racks for a smaller size to no avail and sadly left it behind. However, yesterday, on my trip to another urban (which completely on a whim- I had to run an errand just a few blocks away and decided to stop by) I noticed it again, and they were having a 50% of everything that's already on sale sale! I saw the dress again and thought: hey... for only $15 I wouldn't mind buying a too big dress to alter! I grabbed a small off the rack and happened to run my fingers across it's only one or two remaining mates noticing that one of them was an XS! Needless to say I was pretty much grinning my face off when I took it into the fitting room and then to the checkout counter.

The pictures don't do it justice, really... it's just so easy, comfortable, perfect and summery and yet still looks puts together. Perhaps it's a good thing I can't wear dresses to work or I might wear this every day, at least for the next few weeks. haha.

Oh, and as for Harry Potter: I loved it. I don't understand why anyone re-reads the books beforehand... they're just setting themselves up for disappointment, haha. Ignorance is bliss. Though now I'm really in the mood to re-read the 6th or 7th book... or maybe both. Too bad they're not such a convenient size for toting about.

The one downside to our movie experience was this coughing baby in the front row who was seriously coughing once every 30 seconds for at least the first hour, if not the first half of the movie... until my friend, as well as a few other patrons, went to complain. The mother of the baby and her family were eventually removed by security (and boy was she pissed... but seriosuly, why is your sick 2-3 year old at an 8:30PM showing of a 2 hour and 40 minute movie?? He should be sleeping!) and my friend (though it was really thanks to this other woman who went to complain at the same time as him) got us free passes to see another movie!! Woohoo!! When you live in NYC and movies are $12.50 (seriously, it's ridiculuous... and one of the many reasons I'm more likely to be found at some sort of live theater rather than a movie) this is a serious score. Meanwhile I inconvieniently had to pee just as another movie let out and ended up awkwardly running back to my seat and then getting up again a bit later only to end up running back again to watch a few more minutes of the movie standing in the back of the theater since there was still a line. haha. Oh good times.

Regards,
Freddie

Goodness Gracious (Photoshoot Part 2)

2009-07-18T16:29:00.005-04:00

Goodness Gracious, I disappeared there for a while, didn't I? Playing grown-up is hard work! I feel like I've hardly had any free time, and in the time I have had I've been doing other things so I'm very behind on reading your blogs and responding to comments- I'm sorry!

Anyway, I do have some really cool stuff to show you from one day when we were organizing the hand prop room in the downtown theater. I discovered a whole bunch of old magazines, some as old as the 19-teens, including quite a few fashion and pattern magazines and I'm so glad I had my camera with me! I took a ton of pictures though, so it's going to take some time to choose which ones to organize into a post.

So, for now, in honor of the change of weather we've just recently had (yes... it does actually feel like summer now... knock on wood) I'm going to share some more of that photoshoot (took me long enough, huh?) with you. This portion: flowers! I've been a bit floral-happy this summer.

{topshop shorts, secondhand vest, boy's undershirt, vintage boots}
you can see really well here how different the colors of my arms and legs are thanks to the park... haha

{topshop playsuit, target tights, urban sneakers (which are already quite dirty)}

{gap shorts, h&m t-shirt, urban sneakers, giant dwarf headband purchased at this summer's renegade}
{shawl my mom brought back from Turkey}

And what have I been doing in the small amount of free time I have had? A lot of cooking and baking actually, including baking my friend a birthday cake :)

I've also done a little bit of shopping (I snagged 3 new dresses at the 50% of 50% off sale at Urban today), a lot of bike riding, threw a party, spent some time with friends, and tonight am seeing the new Harry Potter movie with my best friend: so excited!

Now, time to go play catch up with some of your blogs! I've got my work cut out for me!

Regards,
Freddie

Playing Grown-Up

2009-07-06T23:26:00.003-04:00

For the next couple of weeks I'll be playing grown-up. My parents will be away which means I'll be grocery shopping, cooking (or "cooking" as the case may be some days), doing laundry, dishes, etc, etc. It's really not all that much different than what I do when I'm away at school (though much closer to how it will be next year in my apartment versus the past two years of dorm/sorority life) but I felt very much like a grown-up today going grocery shopping and making food. Sometimes playing grown-up is kind of fun but a lot of the time I'd rather play kid again and build a fort from sheets and read Narnia for the umpteenth time or something. Oh well, guess I don't really have a choice.

Anyway, for the past few days I've been wearing:

{Mom's hat, second hand vest, old urban tank top, coup de cour skirt,
shoegasm sandals, hand-me down bag from mom}

This bag is one of my best friends this summer, I love it. I actually wasn't using it here (noramlly it would be slung across my body and stuffed full) but ended up carrying it around empty all day because I tried to go to the shoemaker to get it fixed (it needs a zipper replacement) but apparently I need to go to a luggage place. I need to get on that soon so I can use it again... wearing my backpack to work today made me a little sad, haha.

{h&m blue button down, second hand belt, zachary's smile attic sale skirt, target sandals, mom's bag}

This was my fourth of July outfit. I actually bought the skirt for $5 (!) at the Zachary's smile attic sale the day before. The sale was a little underwhelming actually, but I did come away with this (which is a bit big but the belt does just the trick) and a little, girly, pink dress (perfect for playing grown-up of course, haha) for $5 each so I was satisfied. I also rode my bike halfway across Manhattan (ok, not quite... but it was definitely a few miles each way) in this, and I'm pretty sure my face was as red as the skirt when I got on the train after the first part of my ride. hahaha. The ride back in the evening was however, much nicer although I ended up losing the ribbon in my hair at some point during the day.

{buffalo exchange (brooklyn location) dress, target sandals
(yes these are the same ones as above in a different color... haha), mom's bag}

This is one of my favorite dresses. I bought it right before my 17th or 18th birthday but sadly it hasn't fit me for the past 1/2 a year or so. Well, it fit, but in an I can't sit down or breath if I wear this kind of way. I was excited to find it only a teensy bit tight yesterday but made the mistake of wearing it to my friend's 5th of July BBQ... let's just say I was rather uncomfortable after gorging myself on delicious food. haha

My mom's little straw backpack and that denim vest are also quickly become summer staples of mine. I'm still in a bit of disbelief (how 90s they are!) but I kind of love it ;)

I've been eating:

{boiled egg, kashi blueberry waffles, strawberries and blueberries, syrup,
greek yogurt, veggie bacon, and of course a big mug of coffee}

After talking about how I should start taking pictures of food, I couldn't resist photographing the 4th of July brunch I made for myself... it was just so colorful, festive, and delicious!

Also as mentioned, I went to my friend's barbecue on the 5th and indulged in a yummy mixture of American and Asian grilled goods such as broccoli (with garlic sauce), corn, chicken, shrimp, sweet potato, eggplant, Asian tea and lemonade, watermelon and cherries. SO GOOD. I was SO FULL.

On the 3rd, after going to the aforementioned attic sale (with the aforementioned friend who was the barabecue host), I also payed my first visit to yogurtland which was really pretty good- it's like a self-serve and way cheaper (!!!) version of pinkberry!

I've been seeing:
(alright so that tense doesn't really work with this one but too bad)
Jenny Lewis open for Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band in Battery Park on July 4th. She was AMAZING and Conor Oberst was pretty good too. Then I rode my bike back (only half way though, because it's far) home along the esplanade (yeah, the part I ride on is the narrow park with sinkholes that they mention... haha) and the sun was so beautiful over the water and it was great. :) I wish the weather would stay this nice and I could have more free time to do stuff like this...

But overall: Good Stuff :)

Regards,
Freddie

A Very Belated Birthday Post

2009-07-02T21:14:00.005-04:00

So wow, it's been a while. Since my last post, I turned 20.
I had to work, which wasn't very exciting except that one of the other interns made me a birthday cake (yellow cake with chocolate frosting). yum. :)

I wore this and it was very wet and rainy out:

{Hanes men's undershirt, target belt, shortened Manhattan Vintage Show culottes
(yes those are shorts!), keds, uniqlo umbrella, crown from a long ago high school show}

Someone at work asked me if it was my birthday. When I said yes he said something like, "wow I was just guessing, I mean, you normally wear things like that anyway." haha (Referring to the crown of course).

I got these cards:

{the necklace I wore with the above outfit also pictured- it has a charm with my (real) name, spelled correctly--a rarity, and a unicorn charm}

The most appropriate card was from my mom who also got me a delightfully huge and floppy hat:

{She was caught in a love triangle. She was torn between her love for him and her love of shoes. But she had to choose... And frankly he just didn't match her purse. Happy Birthday}

My best friend came over and we ate sushi and cupcakes my mom brought home from the cupcake truck. I really need to start remembering to take my own food porn pictures for this blog. hahaha. Of course, my rainbow roll, edamame, and shrimp shumai weren't quite this pretty but the cupcake is pretty darn close.

lunch.com, martha stewart, laceilbleu, cupcake stop

Then, I went to bed early... before my birthday was even over (!) because I had to wake up at 6am the next day for the craziest day of work ever: the opening night of twelfth night. I worked from 7:30am on June 25th to 4:30am on June 26th. I spent a lot of time walking trucks through central park and having people warn me that there was a truck behind me (oy!) and arrived home exhausted, but feeling very accomplished, to find the Friday morning paper already at my doorstep. It contained this fantastic review which made me very happy and proud, as well as the front page news about Michael Jackson's death, which was of course quite sad.

After I slept away a lot of Friday, my friend Corinne arrived (she was staying with me until yesterday afternoon which further explains the lack of posting) and we watched The Virgin Suicides and made plans for her stay. On Saturday we had a lovely picnic in the park (like I really needed to go back there... haha) with another friend and celebrated my birthday with a whole crew of lovely people in the evening. We ate rickshaw dumplings, went to UCBT and had birthday cake made by my mom - ginger cake with decadent chocolate frosting. YUM. Like I said... I really need to start taking food pictures. haha

edited to add that I have a cake picture (and a picture of the upper half of a dress I have not shown you yet) courtesy of my mom -- yay!

Tight cropping to be kind to my friends (beautiful people making awkward faces) but Jessie who is taking a picture right behind me (and who I affectionately call my twin... people who don't know us get us confused/think we are related) looks too cute ;) ... and not just because she kind of looks like me :P haha

A few friends slept over and we had homemade blueberry muffins (thanks to my lovely mother once again) and fruit salad in the morning. We then went to the Gay Pride Parade which was a ton of fun and tried out the new flavors at pinkberry. On Monday I resumed a more human work schedule (10am-6pm, M-F) and went to dinner with friends at RICE. Tuesday we hit up Chinatown for vegetarian dim sum and ice cream (almond cookie ice cream is the BEST) at two of my favorite places. Wednesday was Corinne's last day in town and today after work my parents and I finally had time to have a birthday dinner with just the three of us. We went to apiary which was totally cute and had a molten, flourless chocolate cake desert which sort of made me die. In a really good way of course. The rest of my meal was also delicious: a warm chevre and roasted beet salad followed by mushroom risotto.

the gotham plate

This photo really does not do it any sort of justice. And mine was complete with a pretty pink birthday candle stuck perfectly to the plate (so as to not mess up the cake) in between two of the chocolate blobs.

Anyway... now that I seriously need to go on a diet (or at least to the gym on my slightly surprise day off -- woohoo! -- tomorrow) my birthday celebrations are "finally" over and life (and hopefully blog updating) can resume to some degree of normalcy. I'll post more from my photoshoot soon of course, but this post is too long and too full of food to fit anything else in it ;) haha. Hopefully I'll have new and fun fashion things to share soon as well.

Regards,
Freddie

P.S. My crazy work day, and the day after my birthday, was the birthday of fellow blogger and my almost birthday buddy, Amelia! yay! Happy Belated!

Pants Party (and photoshoot part 1)

2009-06-20T16:16:00.003-04:00

So, I will preface this post with a complaint about the weather to get it out of the way: the weather has been awful, which is even worse when you work outdoors which on many days therefore results in a cranky, unfashionable me. Ok, done.

In other, "sunnier" news: this past Monday we were given a surprise half day of work and I decided it was the perfect opportunity to recreate some outfits and have a photo shoot! The setting isn't ideal and I couldn't remember all the outfits I might have wanted to recreate, but I did take quite a few pictures :) I'm not going to show them to you all at once though because they may have to last me quite a while. haha.

So, for now, inspired by the crappy weather I suppose, I'll start by showing off some outfits with pants, which seem to be a rarity on this blog. I also did get to take some real outfit photos on the roof yesterday before work which helped improve my mood, not to mention it was actually a pretty nice day :D (Though we were working downtown and inside for once... haha)

This was I was wearing for real on the day of my photo shoot:

{XL men's undershirt, old urban blazer, old hat and necklace - ??,
urban renewal belt, striped jeans, vintage boots}

Prepare yourselves for many more awkward goofing around in front of a white sheet type photos in the coming week or two ;)

And this was what I wore yesterday:

{thrifted denim vest, ? old green tank and necklace, sample sale pants, manhattan vintage show saddle shoes, etsy sunglasses, earrings my mom brought back from Turkey}

My mom bought these pants for me for $10 at a sample sale but unfortunately we got what we paid for: three of the buttons on the pockets fell off in the wash (though I do have one replacement) and the fit is a little funky and big (especially by the end of the day), but I just love all their cool details, like the pockets and the cuffs which you can see best in the bottom photo. Also, if you noticed- my old watch is fixed! I've been wearing it to work as to not ruin my "new," nicer one with painting and building and moving things and such.

And of course those striped jeans from the first picture are a go to item for lazy/rushed days all year round. I suppose pants aren't all bad after all ;)

Regards,
Freddie

The Model as Muse

2009-06-14T20:41:00.005-04:00

So, today at work (yes I have to work on Sundays sometimes) there was nothing for us to do, as is often the case (...then why make us come in on Sunday?) so our boss gave us interns some petty cash to spend the afternoon at a museum, which I'll admit, was pretty awesome and considerate of him. Despite the mob scene that was 5th avenue due to the Puerto Rican Day Parade, we made it to the Met to see The Model as Muse exhibit which I've only been talking about wanting to see since I got back from school. We also made it to see the current roof garden sculpture which was very cool, though I'm still sad I never saw the giant balloon animals.

Anyway I must say that I was somewhat underwhelmed by the exhibit and wish there had been more of the older, more classic stuff (ie: before the 1970s), but I still thoroughly enjoyed myself and even got to go see it on the job- sweet! Overall, the exhibit was a nice combo of photographs, historical information, old fashion mags and actual garments. Here were a few of my personal favorites:

Lisa Fonssagrives photographed by Penn Irving, Dovima photographed by Richard Avedon

Sunny Harnett photographed by Richard Avedon in a Madame Grès Evening Gown, 1954

Twiggy photographed by Melvin Sokolsky and Gosta Peterson

I would post so many more (including some of I think, Naomi Campbell with a feather boa and a couple other more recent photos), but it's hard to find all the photos online and sadly they wouldn't allow you to take pictures of the exhibit. There was also a book, but I didn't really have $35-$50 to spend... though it would have been lovely. haha.

However, you can check out a mini virtual tour of the exhibit (cool!):

Anyway, my apologies for falling behind on my blog reading and commenting... I tried bringing my computer to work today and got all excited thinking I would catch up, but unfortunately I was unable to get the internet connection (I connected but it was local only... boo.) I guess that's to be expected when you work outside. Alas, we all know I'll get there at some point, and for now, I'm just going to blog (and read) what I can, when I can, and if anyone wants to read it, that's great, if not, oh well, that's ok too ;) And some day you'll see my shopping... someday... haha

Regards,
Freddie

P.S. My other boss has coined a nickname for me: fashintern. haha. I like it.

Rain rain go away come again another day (preferably one that I'm not working k thanks)

2009-06-05T21:45:00.006-04:00

So I was about to post the two outfit photos I took this week showing off my new (ok I can hardly call them new anymore) topshop shorts and jumper as well as a denim vest (what? Some slightly 90s inspiration is hitting me from somewhere but I don't know where that is...) I thrifted on a whim, but the pictures were so horrible I couldn't bring myself to do it. Snapping a quick photo in front of a messy chair in the morning just isn't cutting it for me at the moment... especially because it's summer and I don't feel like I have an excuse for a crappy, poorly lit photo. Though I must say the weather has been incredibly dreary, rainy, and miserable the past few days... and everything in life revolves around weather when you work outside, so I'm going to leave you with some dreams of vintage umbrellas instead.

Thrush, itsastitch

Pudding, JessJamesJake

JillRuth, bellalulu

And of course no umbrella post would be complete without a mention to everyone's favorite umbrella girl, the Morton salt girl, who has looked lovely in absolutely every era.

1914, 1921,1933, 1941, 1956, 1968

Unfortunately, pretty little umbrellas are just to precious for the park (and not useful when you need to work with your hands) where what you really need is a north face shell or poncho type thing (which of course I do not have and therefore I get wet). So, while this job isn't doing wonders for my fashion (and I'm falling behind on reading blogs again-- I'm sorry!) it has resulted in some cool things such as learning that Anne Hathaway goes by Annie and hand delivering Audra McDonald's laptop and foundation to her. HAHA. Oh the life of an intern.

Though I do have to say, the days I do get to rock things like the jumper, my pink hat, or a big flower on my head at work, the everyone at the Delacorte really seems to get a kick out of me ;)

Anyway, I have tomorrow off (and it's supposed to be nice out!) and am going to go to the Renegade Craft Fair with a friend which will hopefully result in some fun things to share :) I got this dress at Renegade last year.

Regards,
Freddie

P.S. The one good thing about today's horrendous rain was that my intern team of three lovely ladies who was supposed to be staying late, ie: until around midnight tonight, got released at 5:15! Almost makes the 7-ish hours we did work in the rain worth it. Almost...

Hot Town, Summer in the City

2009-05-31T18:25:00.011-04:00

I really like Mary's little "I wore, I thought, I saw" format, it's very nice and straightforward, so I'm going to try a little something like it, though I mostly have a lot of "I saw" and a little of "I wore."

So, I saw:
Thursday: my old high school's band concert and a lot of old friends. My old band teacher is retiring and a lot of alum came out to support him. It was really nice and afterwords a bunch of us (including our old yearbook teacher) went to our favorite local diner... and our old teach paid for our food on the school's dime! Haha, shush, don't tell :o

photo credits: school website, wikipedia

Friday: my old crew of high school friends for a sleepover in forest hills. We made sandwiches with brie, apple, and caramelized onions as well as chocolate banana boats. Yum.

photo credit: another print please

Saturday: Exit the King, my first Ionesco, which was SO fantastic, brilliant and absurd. I loved it and highly recommend it to anyone looking to see a really interesting, unique, and moving play which is both funny and terribly sad at the same time. The NY Times review does a better job than I can in describing it.

Geoffery Rush and Susan Sarandon

Lauren Ambrose and Andrea Martin

pictures: Exit the King on Broadway

I waited for them all at the stage door and they were just as wonderful in person as on stage. I got autographs and saw Susan Sarandon's whole fam, complete with a cute little white puppy dog and learned that Andrea Martin rides her bike to and from work - just like me! Also, Lauren Ambrose has played both Juliet (Romeo and Juliet) and Ophelia (Hamlet) at Shakespeare in the Park, where I am working this summer, and I think I officially want to be her.

Sunday: a great friend from school who just got back from Rome. We had lunch at Eli's, I satisfied my craving for a rainbow sprinkle cone, we wandered about and tried to see UP with two other friends, but it was all sold out. Movies are too expensive for me here anyway... $12.50, really? I just saw a freakin' Broadway show for only $26.50!

photos: Eli's Vinegar Factory, Pardon Me for Asking, The Girl Who Ate Everything, wikipedia

Also, I've been running into people left and right the past few days! I love how small this city is sometimes.

I Wore:
Sunday:

{vintage blouse, second hand reconned skirt, hand painted silk scarf, target sandals}

The blouse was my Aunt's way long ago, she bought it in Mexico when she was a teen, and gave it to me four or five years ago. It has the most gorgeous hand embroidery (I should have taken a close up) and must be around 40 years old by now. I used to wear it all the time, but now it has a few holes in it and I'm afraid of how delicate it is. However, the holes are hidden by tucking it into this skirt (seriously one of my best thrift store purchases ever... I wear it to death!) and clothes were meant to be worn, right?

Anyway, next time I do a post like this I should really take some of my own photos :P but it was really kind of fun digging these up from all over the net!

Work tomorrow and tech for Twelfth Night starts Tuesday which means I'm working late 3 days a week and only have one day off (Saturday for me) on weekends. This may mean you will here from me less... wish me luck!

Regards,
Freddie

p.s. Sorry no more nice roof outfit photos... now that it's nice out, it's way too crowded up there for me to take pictures!

Coming to Terms

2009-05-27T19:22:00.003-04:00

So, three days of work and I'm coming to terms with the fact that I'm going to have to wear work clothes. I kind of expected this, but didn't want to admit it. They'll still of course be my-style work clothes, with a little twist (ie: floral docs=best and coolest work boots ever) but I'm going to have to wear jeans and shorts and t-shirts a lot of the time and just get over it. However, I hope to come up with lots of other things to post about and will certainly be dressing extra cute on my days off to compensate ;)

I did however make an effort with my outfits for my first two days and wore some of my new items to boot. The hat (which I need to photograph again and closer up--it has a cute little bow you can't really see) and short overalls are new from Urban Outfitters. The short-alls are open in the back except for the straps which cross like suspenders. They were also marked as on sale for $29.99 and rung up for $9.99... score! I really wanted to wear my new floral tights from topshop with them but they got a teeny snag while taking them out of the package and I was super worried about getting them snagged even more on some wood or something at work.

{new hat from urban, shirt by me, target leggings I cut to make shorts, navy keds}

{new overall shorts from urban, target cardigan and tights, ? white shirt, vintage floral docs}
Also, you can see my at home bike (yes, it's a different one) behind me. I've been riding to and from work everyday and it's a little small and squeeky but has a cute little basket and horn.

Anyway, work so far has it's goods and bads. I'll talk about today though because today was mostly good :) It was supposed to rain and be gross out and while it was a little chilly it got sunny and much nicer for part of the day. We also had a 5th intern join us today and so far I'm getting along really well with (almost) everyone. We hung out with some goofy guys and I learned to use a chop saw (it was hard to find a good picture- the one I used was bigger and sharper ;) ... I like power tools) :) Then we painted some stairs and the work day ended an hour early for a barbeque with AMAZING food. The park has new caterers this summer and let me tell you they are excellent! Of course, this situation is an incredibly rare occurance, but gotta enjoy it while you got it :)

Regards,
Freddie

A Fashionless Post

2009-05-24T01:41:00.005-04:00

Ok, so I don't have anything fashion related to share at the moment, but felt like posting anyway because I had a few other things to share/say:

Thank you again for the lovely comments! I'm still working on how to respond to these things so knowing me I am probably just going to end up continuing to say thank you periodically in my posts which does seems kind of silly. However, I do try and visit the blogs of anyone who comments on my posts! Which leads me to...
Things that have been entertaining me in my free time:

well I have caught up on blogs- leaving me looking for more -- some found through your comments :) -- which of course I am almost 100% sure to fall behind on again as soon as I start work on Monday.
I finally went to Top Shop today! Everything I got was floral. I can't wait to share these purchases along with the ones from a few days ago which I assure you will happen soon. I also stopped by Screaming Mimi's which has like everything you could ever hope to find on ebay expect expensive and I had already spent enough Money at Top Shop :P
riding my bike
catching up with old friends
sites like these... and sharing such websites with aforementioned friends: http://www.fmylife.com/, http://new.mylifeisaverage.com/, http://flml.org/, http://www.textsfromlastnight.com/, http://www.overheardinnewyork.com/
(yes we are really cool people who sit in Union Square at night eating dessert from Whole Foods and reading these things off an i-phone while a very wasted man tries to offer us the Heimlich and a very polite woman asks where the statue of Gandhi is. It's good to be home.)
and this hilarious and adorable video courtesy of Sally Jane:

Anyway, good stuff. This blog will resume it's normal fashion related state soon. I have a ton of post ideas stored up on a little sticky note on my desktop (haha) as well as the shopping to share as I have mentioned multiple times... and I'm sure I will have work related blabber to share starting Monday too.

Goodnight and Regards,
Freddie

Wearing big hats helps keep people away from you on the subway

2009-05-21T00:32:00.004-04:00

So this is the hat I bought at housing works the other day. Problem: It likes to catch the wind and doesn't want to stay on my head! I need to possibly find some ribbon and a cute way to fix this problem. The hat did originally have a tacky Hawaiian print band which I carefully peeled off, and I'm not sure if I should replace that with something else or leave that part be.

{second hand hat, h&m blouse, gap shorts (I'm practicing), sandals from shoegasm}

Also, I did more shopping between my dentist appointment and haircut (I can see again!) on Tuesday. Whoops. Some of it was justifiable as for work though and some of it was on sale and I promise to show you soon.

Today I tried to see Billy Elliot with some friends but couldn't get tickets so instead we saw Blithe Spirit. A little slow to short but very kooky and very funny by the end. Yay Angela Lansbury!

The bff comes home from Texas tomorrow (well today technically) and I can't wait!

Regards,
Freddie

Oh hey, I'm kinda bored.

2009-05-18T21:55:00.000-04:00

Wait what? Yes, that's right... I'm home from my grandparents house and most of my friends are still away, and as for the ones that are here... I can't contact them because my phone was left in the Berkshires! I was busy helping my Grandpa build a chicken coop (yep) and my mom made my bed (how nice!) while I was doing so... and made my phone into the bed... so it was left there. Oy. Alright, alright, enough complaining, it's in the mail and I should have it tomorrow or Wednesday, but as for now, I am feeling this incredibly odd and unfamiliar sensation of slight boredom.

However, while I was there, I did entertain myself with a little countryside photo shoot in some new and interesting locations, even though I didn't bring the most exciting outfits with me because a) visiting my Grandpa almost always involve things like climbing ladders and using power tools (and it did) and b) well... packing for the weekend involved unpacking part of my stuff from college which I had done as little of as possible. haha. I did a lot of unpacking today though, I swear! ... that shows you how bored I am ;) haha

I would have loved to visit the neighbor's farm or something for photo-taking but I felt like that might be a bit suspect, so I settled for a walk to a cute little bridge nearby. It did look like it was going to rain but luckily it waited until later.

{urban shirt, mom's cardigan, old reconned skirt, target tights, vintage boots, h&m umbrella}

Today I also went to my local goodwill and housing works and it was fairly unsuccessful (I did come away with one hat) but still fun. Tomorrow I'm going to the dentist and getting my hair cut (nothing drastic) and will have time to kill in between, so we'll see if I find any more shopping to do ;)

Regards,
Freddie

P.s. a gratuitous building the chicken coop as Grandpa "supervises" shot. haha
He always rocks overalls and a sweet straw hat ;)

The New Hat

2009-05-16T01:43:00.000-04:00

One of the most exciting things (ok maybe that’s sad, but a lot of my friends don’t get home until later this week) about arriving home was getting my new boater hat—the one that my mom got for me at the manhattan vintage show. It’s a teeny bit small, I guess my head is bigger than my mother’s, but that’s ok, I can still wear it and I’m totally in love.

{h&m dress as shirt, second hand reconned skirt, secondhand bag,
steve madden flats, vintage boater hat}

I didn’t actually wear the hat out today since I didn’t go anywhere besides to lunch with my dad and then back into the car again, but I couldn’t resist showing it off. Also, with my bangs this long the hat pushes them completely over my eyes, but I’m going to get them trimmed on Tuesday.

Anyway, in honor of the new hat, I thought I’d share some pictures of some other lovely and inspiring ladies and their boaters.

Liebemarlene, Lover, Young Shields, The Cherry Blossom Girl

Anyway, I do suppose it's good that most of my friends aren't home yet considering that approximately 19 hours after getting home we left again to go and visit my Grandparents in the Berkshires. Kind of annoying to have to make such a quick turn around but I'm so glad to get to see them considering since the last time I did was last August! So far the visit has yielded a gorgeous new (well, actually old... 1950s I believe) gold watch which is an early birthday present from them and a complement on my shoes from my Grandma... now that's something!

{Next post will be in real time I think.}

Regards,
Freddie

Dressing Practically

2009-05-15T02:00:00.000-04:00

{Alright, I'm cheating a little bit here and am back-dating some posts (including this one.... ohh time machine) because I've got a bunch stored up in a word file/in my brain that I've been unable to post due to a crazy schedule and lack of internet access over the past few days.}

So, what do you wear for your last day of sophomore year on which you have two finals, one at 9am and one at 2pm and will then proceed to pack until approximately 10 or 10:30pm? Why, a 50s style dress with flamingos on it with a tulle underskirt of course! Hahaha. Though I must say, these pictures are incredibly deceptive because they make it look like it was a beautiful, warm, sunny day in Ithaca… and it was… for about two hours. I started and ended the day with tights and a long-sleeved shirt under this.

{h&m dress circa a year or two ago, merona target boat shoes}

But anyway… sophomore year is over and I’m kind of in disbelief. All finals week I couldn’t wait to get out of there and although I was ready for a rest after packing up my room (you can probably imagine I have a lot of stuff :P) and taking three trips to the storage unit, all of a sudden I was sad to go. I guess that’s always how it is though, huh? It is nice to have a bit of freedom though, even if it’s only for the coming week before I start my internship. I anticipate shopping and thrifting, some good meals and hopefully some theater. Also, I’m hoping to get some ideas for more kinds of content to post about once I start working and fall into (though hopefully not) a very boring t-shirt and shorts routine, so if anyone has any suggestions I’d be happy to hear them :) And thank you all for your lovely comments on my last couple of posts, they have really made me smile!

Regards,
Freddie

The Importance of God's "LOVE Project" with Boys at mASS

2009-05-08T22:53:00.000-04:00

So I guess I lied... about study week and finals week that is. I wrote a paper, and studied some, but I actually haven't been so terribly busy. The paper was turned in today, my first final isn't until this Monday and then I have 2 on Wednesday, but one is in stage makeup and therefore doesn't involve that much studying. So, while I have put in some nice library time this week, I've also put in a little party time and a lot of lazy movie and TV watching time... and right now, well, I'm a bit bored! Fancy that!

Anyway, Tuesday was one of those lazy days and after a whole lot of bumming about in sweatpants (yes I do actually own some... but I didn't until this year! haha!), I decided to make a nice shirt to wear the next day to actually induce myself to get out of the house. It worked, and I did get me to the library, but not without snapping a few photos first. While the pictures don't really do the ruffles justice I'm quite pleased with how it turned out, especially since I didn't really know what I was going for when I started.

{shirt by me, second hand skirt shortened by me, target tights, vintage flats}
The weather has been giving my bangs a little trouble lately... haha

I do need to get more serious about my studies soon but hopefully will also find something fun to do tomorrow night.

Also, I found out my best friend from home reads my blog and has shown it to some of his friends (but the feedback is all positive- hooray! haha). I suppose that's what I get for linking my old blog on my facebook and linking this blog from my old blog. :P I would take the link down, but I've decided to be only slightly embarrassed and I figure if anyone finds this blog that way and wants to read it... well, then they should feel free. No biggie.

Anyway, the way I found out about this is that he showed me a youtube video of a spontaneous musical (about finals week in fact!) that happened at his school and told me I should post it here. Haha oh Mike I love you. Anyway, it was pretty enjoyable and I agree it deserves a mention:

Oh, and if you're curious about the title of today's post... it was the title of this year's anual Schwartz center gala: a show the upperclassmen put on making fun of everything that happened this year. It was hilarious and I came out relatively unscathed/not made fun of too much which was a relief ;)

Well, I guess I should be off to continue my unproductivity (though I did study after the gala today, I swear!) and then get some rest so I can work on decoding secret messages for Monday's final. No... really, I'm serious- the final is in my cryptography class.

Regards,
Freddie

I Love College

2009-05-02T16:44:00.000-04:00

So, the past week I've had a chance to do a couple of fun photoshoots, but no time to share any of the pictures I took because I've been so busy! It was the last week of classes, so naturally I had a ton of work to do... and yesterday was slope day, which is basically a celebratory day of drunken debauchery with concerts on our giant slope. And yes it does have it's own wikipedia article, haha. I didn't see much of the concert itself- though can't say I'm all that upset about missing the Pussycat Dolls or Asher Roth- and I did have to do a presentation in class at 12:20, which was kind of a bummer, but the day was still great. Tonight we have our formal, which I should start getting ready for soon, but I thought I'd share a few photos with you, especially seeing as next week starts studying for finals... aka I am probably not going to have very many photo worthy outfits... though I will still find things to blog about I'm sure.

Anyway, the final presentation that culminated yesterday was for my theater design class and I was doing lighting design. I only wish I had realized sooner what a great place to take photos the light lab is.

You can click the pictures to enlarge them if you wish.

{gap shorts, hanes XL men's undershirt, birkenstocks, target belt, recycled paper bead necklace}
Oh, and the lovely bald lady's name is Mannique. She is one of our lighting models.

{j.crew jeans, target belt, vintage sam&libby ballet flats, target dress as shirt}
You can also kind of see my "new" watch in one of these pictures. It was my dad's from the '70s and I'll try to post about it later this week.

Also, I finally got a chance to photograph the sailor dress I've been talking about. I bought it kind of on a whim when the dress I really wanted, from libemarlene, was way out of my price range. I was afraid I would regret it, and while it's a little small (I can't button the top and it's a bit tight in the shoulders) it's still perfectly wearable and I've decided I'm really very happy with it. One bonus is that it's a slightly more wintery dress, and while I'm lusting after light, summery dresses right now, over time, I'll probably get much more wear out of this one.

The dress I wanted:

The dress I got:

{corduroy sailor dress from fancytreehouse, black target tights, steve madden flats}

Also, a big thanks to the stylish wanderer for these shoes. I got them after seeing them on her blog and they are now probably one of my most frequently sported pairs of flats -- I adore them!

Regards,
Freddie

Are you going to the first floor, Kansas, or Oz?

2009-04-25T21:11:00.000-04:00

Was what some professorly guy said to me as I got into the elevator of our theater building yesterday afternoon. I actually got a lot of comments along the lines of "you're kind of channeling Dorothy today" which was perfect because that's exactly what I was going for ;) Inspired in part by a lovely comment I got from McCall about channeling different characters in my outfits, by this picture of LittleLou's that Mary shared a while ago, and by Modcloth's Modern Dorothy Skirt, I decided to do a Dorothy outfit. I've had it on the mind for a while and the weather was finally perfect enough to actually wear it.

I did actually take pictures outside but the one I snapped in the dressing rooms while I was practicing my stage makeup (before I started, otherwise my face would be a whole array of colors) came out a whole lot better.

{dress from renegade craft fair last summer, bitten locket, shoegasm shoes,
socks from when I played Patti Simcox in Grease}

In other news, my mom did a little shopping at the Manhattan Vintage Show for me yesterday. (Wish I was home so I could have gone) and after about a million picture messages bought me a pair of pink/white seersucker gauchos and a boater hat! Oh I am so absolutely excited to get home so I can wear them, especially the hat.

I am also on the hunt for a new watch as my old one has bitten the dust. It was a kid's flik flak with dinosaurs on it and I'm thinking maybe someone was trying to tell me it was time to get a more grownup watch? My mom is sending me an old one of my Dad's for now, but I think it'll be too big for me to like wearing... we'll have to see.

I've been looking for a new one, but I really only seem to be liking pocket watch necklaces and I really need something to go on my wrist... more practical, and right now my wrist is feeling nakie!

modcloth

any suggestions?
The hunt for shorts, rompers and closed toed shoes for the summer also continues.

Regards,
Freddie

Have you seen my party dress?

2009-04-22T00:13:00.000-04:00

So I had a new (to me) dress I was all excited to share with you today, but of course the weather told me it was going to be crummy and rainy and so I didn't bring my camera. It turned out to be a gorgeous sunny day and I had hot feet in my hunter boots and have no pictures. How sad. Oh well, I will just have to keep you in suspense for now ;)

Instead, I will share with you Friday's outfit- for Friday was a gorgeous sunny day that I was actually prepared for:

{target wrap dress and sandals, ? white t-shirt, necklace by me,
bitten headband, flea market sunglasses}

It was so sunny that I didn't actually managed to get a good photo... because of the sun! And guess what's missing from this picture.....? Tights! Yes, that's right folks, bare legs. It was a good day. Actually I felt kind of naked it's been so long my legs have seen the sun.

Also, I wore my new sewing machine necklace, inspired by this post by the lovely Carrie of wishwishwish, which I made from a doll house sewing machine I bought on ebay. I don't have chain for it yet so I've been alternating between borrowing the chain from my locket and using a ribbon when I want to wear it.

Anyway, I also wanted to share the song my post title is based on... I'm kind of obsessed with it. I think it's hilarious and also... like... me in a song. I mean, she's a little girl. And a spy. duh.

more from the very awesome kerrigan-lowdermilk here.

Oh! And finally, the end of the bales of hay saga:

It's hard to see the first one, but there are bags hanging out of a window across the quad. And the last is of people using them as seating on aforementioned gorgeous Friday.

Anyway, school is catching up with me (and it really is going to be rainy and gross until friday) so you may be hearing a little less from me... but we shall see.

Regards,
Freddie

p.s. Even if you wear bike shorts under your wrap dress you will still look naked when you ride your bike. Just fyi.

Pirate Granny

2009-04-14T18:59:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, according to my friend, I looked like a pirate:

{target vest, calvin klein leggings, steve madden flats, shirt - ?, h&m hat}

I am normally not one of the shirts with leggings as pants persuasion, but this shirt is so long and I thought the combination worked so well with the new target band vest I was telling you about (which keeps having it's buttons pop off... cheap stuff... good thing that's easy to fix) that I decided I would rock it.

Also, you get to meet my bike. He/she (?) doesn't have a name, or gender for that matter, yet, and I feel like by this point he/she probably should. Any suggestions?

Then today, according to myself, I looked like a granny, especially with the hat which I've determined is really too big, though it looks great with my other hats on my wall, haha.

{target dress, tights, belt, and hat, scarf - a gift, vintage sweater, sandals from shoegasm}

I was also lying to myself about the weather today by wearing a summery dress and sandals and tried to pretend like sheer tights would keep me warm. Lies. Also, I really did have a jacket with me both these days... alas. haha

Anyway, finally, to keep this actually kind of brief post a little less brief, I decided I would also share some things keeping me amused lately:

Someone rearranged the bags of hay on the arts quad. hahaha:

And some awesome videos I've been procrastinating with lately:

via [title of show]

"Sweet Dreams" from Kirsten Lepore on Vimeo.
found via one of the lovely blogs I follow... can't remember which one, sorry :(
{but seriously, watch the whole thing. I know it's long, but it's worth it}

also found via a lovely blogger... I swear I wrote this down...

Anyway, enjoy ;)

and Regards,
Freddie

Walking on sunshine

2009-04-11T20:39:00.000-04:00

Do you folks ever blog in your head? Like when you're walking (or biking) to and from class, or sitting in a less than stimulating lecture? haha. Well, lately that's been happening to me quite a bit, but of course now that I'm finally sitting at my computer I can't remember all those things I had wanted to say!

However, I do remember one thing... the weather is actually getting warmer... for real this time! (I think... please Ithaca, don't prove me wrong!). Yesterday for a small portion of the day I didn't even have to wear the sweater I had with me. Today was incredibly bright and sunny but of course deceivingly colder and extremely windy... but still, there was sun! And I took outfit pictures outside! Both days. I am definitely going to try and keep this up as I think the results are much more interesting than my perpetually showing off my messy room to you all ;)

{target dress, vest - ?, vintage brooch and boots, j.crew tights}

{target shirt, tights and shoes, thrifted belt and skirt (reconned), hat from a flea market in germany}

The little target boater shoes are new, courtesy of an excursion to the mall on Thursday to try and find some shorts and other work appropriate clothes for the summer. I'm hoping they will qualify as closed toed shoes that aren't ballet flats. I did also manage to buy two pairs of shorts at the gap and while I'm not absolutely thrilled with them, I think they will certainly do... I just need to style them right ;) I also foresee trips to h&m, topshop, and urban when I get home. However, while target didn't do me any good on the shorts front, I did find these shoes, a white skinny belt, and a fabulous band inspired vest that I can't wait to incorporate into an outfit.

Also, today, as I was stopping to take a picture of whatever strange statement someone installed on our arts quad (those are all bags of hay I believe... Cornell does The Gates anyone?) some girls complimented my outfit. Actually, to be more specific I think they were talking about my outfit to each other saying "she looks good" and then I awkwardly ended up stopping right by them to take a picture so one of them was like, "hey, you look good!" So that made me smile :)

Thanks so much for all of your lovely comments as well... especially on the facial hair ;) hahaha But really, I do appreciate them so much!

Regards,
Freddie

p.s. I think I'm going to work on the layout of my blog to make it a little more interesting as well... so bear with me in the meantime if it starts to look worse before it looks better ;)

Girl Talk, Boy Talk or April Snow brings DIY

2009-04-08T15:37:00.000-04:00

So lots of small things to share this afternoon. First, remember that problem I was having with wearing lots of jeans because of the in-between weather... well that problem has ended... why? Because it is cold again! That's right folks, it is April 8th and here in Ithaca it snowed today and yesterday. Good grief. However, while I was doused in snow on my way to class this morning, it seems to be warming up now and we should have spring again (ie: 50ish degrees) tomorrow.

Anyway, in other news, this past Sunday I went and saw Girl Talk in concert and it was GREAT! Pretty much like being at a humongous club and having a giant dance party. My friend and I were ALL the way in front smashed against the barricades which got a little violent at times with all the girls trying to sell their bodies to the bouncers to try to get onstage (a select few won the chance to dance onstage with Girl Talk when they bought their tickets), but it was well worth it for how hilarious their desperation was. ;)

I don't actually have an outfit photo from that day, which is kind of a shame, but here's April 3rd's outfit which hasn't been blogged yet... and is actually kind of similar to what I wore to the concert (mostly because that American Apparel black skirt seems to be my new, and almost only, alternative to jeans, haha).

{old striped top, vintage cardigan and belt, american apparel skirt, target tights and flats}
p.s. excuse the angry face in this photo... I assure you it was not intentional.

I actually found this shirt, an old favorite of mine, when I was rummaging around desperately seeking my either or tights, which I seem to have lost :( and I only got to wear them once or twice! Sad. But I did find the shirt, not really missing but I sort of forgot it existed... and rediscovering it was nice.

In other news, I did get cast in that show I was talking about :) It's a rather small part aka not what I had wanted, but I know I should be happy to be in it at all... and I think it'll be really fun. I'm probably going to end up doing lots of juggling and other fun circus stuff.

Also, in the world of theater, yesterday in stage makeup, we did facial hair! Hence the "boy talk" part of this post title. haha, it was great... my friend forced me to walk back to where we live on north campus (almost 20 minutes away from the theater building) with it on... so I figured I had to snap a photo.

{uniqlo button down shirt, american apparel skirt, target tights, vintage vest, doc martens and hat}
I was kind of going for masculine on top and girly on the bottom since I knew we'd be doing this makeup.

It's even scarier close up, I promise. I think I'll wait until the end of the semester and show off all the stage makeup close ups at once though.

Alright, finally, last night, I don't know if I was inspired by the cold weather or what, but I pulled out this dress I bought for $2.50 at housing works over winter break which is really too big for me and took out my scissors and sewing machine *gasp*

I like how you can see a blog (cachemire et soie I believe)
and my giant Shakespeare book in the background

After a little pondering, chopping, sewing, and fixing a silly mistake or two, I ended up with a cute little bubble skirt... so now I have another, slightly nicer alternative to the American Apparel skirt I've been living in. It's not perfect but I'm really quite happy and even wore it today... since it's so cold the weather is totally appropriate for the skirt, which is wool :P

{j.crew cardigan, shirt from a clothing swap, holiday market headband,
skirt reconned by me from a vintage dress, wool tights - ?, steve madden flats}

Basically what the recon amounted to was chopping off the top of the dress (which I still haven't decided what to do with), folding and sewing down a bit at the top to make a "waistband" and then shortening the whole thing about 7 inches.

Anyway, I'm extra happy with today's outfit because I'm going to Super Seder (basically a huge amount of people having lots of little separate Seder's in a giant hall with the food provided by Cornell Hillel or whoever... good stuff) tonight for the first night of Passover and I won't even have to change! I hate "wasting outfits" ... and if I have an outfit I really like on and then need to change for something else it makes me sad, haha.

Regards,
Freddie

A fashion blogger's worst nightmare

2009-04-04T22:54:00.001-04:00

So, remember that summer internship with Shakespeare in the Park that I was 10 times elated about? Well imagine my chagrin when I received my official intern packet and saw this:

"Do not – under any circumstances or for any reason – wear open toed or open heeled shoes. If the potential loss of one or more digits does not frighten you enough, -------- can demonstrate the verbal abuse you’ll encounter from staff and crew if someone catches sight of your verboten footwear. Ballet flats also do not count as real shoes that will protect your foot if something is dropped on it. Also, no dresses or skirts. Under no circumstances should anyone’s chosen apparel keep them from climbing, crawling, walking, or schlepping various materials from point A to point B."

WHAT? WHAT? I'm sorry... but what on earth am I supposed to wear? I anticipated the no open toed shoes rule and prepared myself for a summer of keds and ballet flats... but no ballet flats? No skirts? No dresses? I can climb, crawl, walk, schelpp, and even ride a bike in skirts and dresses! I've been doing it all my life!

After restraining my tears (am I really that vain? I suppose so), I moped around for a bit and picked myself up because I had callbacks to attend (fingers will be crossed as tight as can be until Monday) and realized that I needed to accept this as fashion challenge, rather than a fashion punishment. However, this is where I need your help:

I am going to need shorts for this summer.

Here is something you should know about me: I don't like shorts. I own only a couple of pairs, which I doubt even fit me anymore, and I hardly ever wear them. I just don't like how I look in shorts. I have a curvy behind and large thighs with a smallish waist and it makes flattering, well fitting shorts (and pants for that matter) quite hard to come by. So, I need your help! Suggestions, comments, ideas, advice - anything is appreciated! What sort of shorts can a petite but curvy gal like me pull off?

p.s. rompers I'm sure would be suitable too... but I feel like these are even less likely to flatter my body type. (I also have a long torso and short legs).

Well... here's for some "short" inspiration... can someone not tall and skinny and leggy pull any of these off? Any other cute (affordable!) shorts lurking out there that you'd like to point me in the direction of? ;)

Modcloth, Orla Kiely, Anthropologie

Lover, Anthropologie

Urban Outfitters, unknown ebay seller, Teen Vogue

Weardrobe

So I guess I've got a fair amount of inspiration... I just need to know where I can find similar things... that and can afford... if they look good on me...

Anyway, I'm sorry if this post sounded very whiny "I hate my body-esque," I honestly didn't mean for it to. Sure, like all girls, there are parts of my body I like more than others, and parts I feel insecure about and like to cover up, but I'm really just laying out the facts here... and the biggest fact is: I need shorts.

Of course here in Ithaca, it still seems ridiculous to think it could ever be warm enough for someone to wear shorts... but I know it will be before I know it. Does that make sense? ;)

Regards,
Freddie

April, come she will

2009-04-02T15:33:00.000-04:00

So, it actually feels like spring here in Ithaca! Well, today it does... maybe not yesterday and maybe it won't tomorrow, but we've got to enjoy it while we have it ;) I have to say though, despite the balmy weather, my clothing choices have not been all that inspired lately. In fact, I've been wearing jeans a lot *gasp* and I think the reason is that it seasonally feels too warm for fuzzy tights... and yet physically, it's not quite warm enough to be bare legged (though today was close!). Hence... I turn to jeans for my lazy answer.

I do have two outfit photos I want to show you though, even if they both are with jeans.
The first is from Tuesday, and while I was loving the florals on my feet and on my shirt, I can't stop laughing at the main reason I took this picture... my eye and my arm! ;) No, I didn't get into a fight guys (but seriously, you should see the other girl...) -- it was bruise and wound day in stage makeup class! I decided to wear my makeup home and really freak people out... and let me tell you, it worked. I had a bunch of people ready to jump up and defend my honor... guess it's nice to know I have friends who would be willing to do that. haha.

{target tank top, h&m floral top, urban renewal belt, j.crew jeans,
vintage headband, bitten necklace, vintage doc martens}

Anyway, then there is today's outfit which is exciting to me for two reasons. The first is that this is my entire outfit. Jacket included. Seriously. (Ok I cheated a little because I was wearing a cardigan under the jacket when I left the house, but I took it off after my second class, I swear!). The second is that this shirt is one of my absolute favorites but has yet to make it to the blog because generally speaking, I wear it with jeans. I guess it's kind of my lazy outfit shirt because I know that if I wake up late I can throw it and a pair of jeans on and still look acceptably cute... but certainly not outfit photo worthy. Even so, I think it deserves a mention here considering how much I wear it.

{free people shirt, old urban outfitters jacket, AG jeans, vintage boots}

In other news, I had class from 9:05-11:25 this morning, then lunch until noonish with a friend and well... lets just say that I have somehow ended up with not too much work and had a lot of time on my hands! I have an audition at 7:15 tonight, and since the last thing I wanted to do was spend 7 hours and 15 minutes worrying about it (and I would do that too...) I decided to distract myself by making a collage of what I really want to be wearing (as opposed to what I am wearing above) this spring. I have to say I admire you folks who make these collages all the time--it's super time consuming! ... but also really fun :) I suppose some of the time it took me had to do with the fact that I had to go out and find all those frames (and finding ones you don't have to pay for/are free for personal use is tough) but I now have them saved for the future.

1. sailor dresses like these two from libe marline (sadly both sold for out of my price range)
2. a boater hat like everyone else and their mom (this one from etsy)
3. lightweight frilly blouses like this one from an ebay seller I forgot to save :(
4. floral tights to wear with my docs (and at all other times) like the cherry blossom girl's
5. the perfect red shoes that I was outbid on from meat market,
6. a great leather satchel to carry my books in like this one from ?
7. and this great skirt by makool,
among many many other things of course ;)

I do realize that if I'm going to keep doing these sorts of collages I need to do a better job of remembering where everything is from, and from now on when I save images I'm making sure to not it in the file name. However, I have tons of images I've saved in the past before I realized I should be taking notes, so if any of you can help me fill in the blanks, please do!

Regards,
Freddie

The Firebird Suite

2009-03-26T13:14:00.000-04:00

Alright, this will be a fairly quick post I think, of course you do know how I tend to ramble... but I did promise you at least one post a week, so here goes!

First, Tuesday was a lovely day, and as Tuesdays are also generally my busiest day, or at least the day I have the most walking about campus, I kept my eyes peeled for photo locations... but to no avail. There is no place private on this campus! Seriously. Perhaps I am just too sheepish... but instead I'll just have to stick with room photos for now. I did try to take advantage of the natural light coming in from my windows a bit, even if it means you see more of my mess. My roommate's bookshelf actually used to be behind where I'm standing but it was very cheap and from target and recently collapsed! So that pile of books, as well as the blue bed to my right, your left, are hers, while the crazy bulletin board and everything around it on the other side is mine. And yes, that's my bed up there, right under the hatched egg...

{threadless tee, american apparel skirt, really really old old navy belt, tights - ?, vintage boots}

I thought this outfit looked a little witchy on the bottom... but I kind of liked that, and I'm glad I found another way to wear my green tights which always seem to pose a bit of a challenge. The witchy-ness also ended up being very appropriate for stage makeup class, especially after I changed into a black shirt. We were doing animal makeups this week and I was my cat!
I also now have a lot of the photos from that class on my computer and hope to share them with you soon ;)

Oh, and my shirt says "You know, sometimes I feel pretty average." I think it's hilarious, the bears are wearing hats and ties if you can't tell, and it's one of only a very few graphic tees (besides my KD shirts) that I still wear, but it generally seems to confuse others. haha

Then yesterday's outfit--a little sailor inspired, though it ended up being not so good because it was so windy and the bottom of my dress kept getting blown all over the place!

{h&m button down shirt, target dress, bitten headband, tights - ?, navy keds}

I feel like I look kind of creepy in this photo... hah. Perhaps it's the dark circles under my eyes? For some reason I hardly slept at all Sunday and Monday nights of this past week... I can't explain why :/

In other news... I got the summer internship I applied for with The Public Theater! That's right folks, Shakespeare in the Park... and not just any park, Central Park, at the Delacorte theater! I am so very excited. Out of the billion internships it feels like I applied for this was probably my first choice... and now I'm turning down other interviews and offers... so exciting! (Though I did just got a call from Signature theater for an interview for their artistic intern position and it was the first one that I was a bit sad to turn down... but there's always next summer... and who can say no to a summer in the park?) Of course, this probably means a summer of shorts and sneakers, late nights and little free time, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

And finally, I've been working on my lighting lab project and finally chose a song to light... which is a good thing since I'm scheduled to go into the light lab this evening from 5 to 7. I decided on using a 3-ish minute chunk of the Firebird Suite (the very end) and made my choice by watching copious amounts of Fantasia on youtube last night. We actually also played the piece in band in high school, I can't remember exactly when. Anyway, if you've never seen Fantasia and/or heard the firebird, I really suggest you check it out... and none of this Fantasia 2000 crap either... I'm talking the real Fantasia. ;)

Anyway... so much for a short post, right?
Time for me to nap, and work on some juggling and a monologue.

Regards,
Freddie

If I were a bell I'd go ding dong, ding dong ding!

2009-03-20T01:10:00.000-04:00

Hmm... do you ever think up blog entries all nice and eloquent sounding in your head and then more things happen and you have more to say and it gets all jumbled up and you don't know where to start? Well, that's what's happened here so we'll see what I can do ;)

I suppose we'll start with the origins of today's outfit. I've done a little shopping over break, but not a ton. I did however finally get that skirt from American Apparel that everyone and their mom has, and let me tell you I am so glad I did! I need one of my friend's to start working there though so I can have a discount and buy more in different colors. It is just so excellent and versatile, I wore it for the first time today and have to say that if I had to wear one item every day, this might be it. Anyway, enough raving about that skirt because I bet you all know how fantastic it is already, and on to more interesting things:

In addition to getting the skirt (and two pairs of bike shorts- good for wearing under summer dresses when I still want to ride my bike around campus) at American Apparel I also did a little bit of thrifting. I went to one shop on 3rd avenue near my house and got a belt and a pair of too big for me (on purpose) jeans. They are great and comfy and nice when rolled up and worn low. However, today I thought I would try rocking them high waisted and they almost worked, but I wasn't quite sure. I had to belt them in quite a lot but if they had been my right waist size they would have been way tight in the thighs (a problem I often have) and a totally different look... so maybe high waisted jeans just isn't a look I can pull off. It seems to be a fine line between fashion and mom jeans and since I couldn't decide what side of the line I fell on with the outfit... I changed into the magic AA skirt, haha.

Anyway, in much more exciting thrifting news, some of you may know I have been looking for a trench coat for quite a while now. Well, I went to my local goodwill which is usually pretty crappy but I figured it was worth a browse since I still had some time to kill before getting my bangs trimmed. Well, I saw a trench coat on the rack, my eyes lit up and I took it down and tried it on and turns out it was from H&M and too small. Alas. Then, I had an awkward moment and came across this:

{please excuse all the crappy cell phone pictures in this post,
I sadly did not have my camera while I was out shopping on Tuesday, silly me}

Why is this awkward you ask? Well I had to take a silly camera phone outfit picture to show you why:

{target dress and shoes , tights - a gift from my mom a long time ago,
j.crew sweater, cirque de soleil bag, H&M coat}

Yes, that's right folks, me and the dress hanging on the end of the rack (no I didn't move it there, it was right next to the mirror where I was trying on coats) were wearing the same thing.... well, uh, you know what I mean. You say I can't have an awkward moment with an article of clothing? Psh, if that dress could talk I know it would say, "who do you think you're wearing." Haha, ok... well, I thought it was amusing, alright? I guess not really that surprising considering the dress is from target, but still.

Another amusing thing that happened that day:

The bagel place had green bagels for St. Patty's day! haha! ew...

Anyway, back to goodwill. I came across this cutie:

and contemplated buying it. I'm still a little sad to have left it behind, but I left goodwill that day with the trench coat to end all trench coats, the trench coat of my dreams! When I was trying it on in the store, trying to decide between it and the coat above (my goodwill isn't cheap enough that I could get both, it's NYC, the goodwill coats are $20, but my trench was oh so worth it!) an old woman walked buy and told me the trench looked really good on me. haha.

Anyway, I got the trench, and was able to get some good shots of it today :)

Yes, it has a hood (which buttons off!) and full skirt and other awesome details and everything. I am in trench coat heaven.

Oh, and here's what is hiding underneath my facade of being a super cool Audrey Hepburn-like spy:

{H&M blue button down, urban purple tank, j.crew sweater, just thrifted belt,
American Apparel skirt, target tights, vintage boots}

And yes, this outfit does include brown, black, and navy blue. Deal with it. (The tights are actually navy and black houndstooth I believe, so blame them, haha)

p.s. notice my bangs are significantly shorter in these pictures than in the ones above? Haha, yes, I can see again!

Anyway, where did I go in my awesome new coat (Can you tell I'm kind of enamored with it?) with my fairly newfound ability to see? Well, an old friend and I tried to get tickets to this but they sadly were not doing student rush today so instead we ended up getting standing room to this. While I agree with the reviewers who said the production was less than fantastic and the actors lacked chemistry with each other (kind of ironic if you are at all familiar with the show...) I did really enjoy it. It is such a fun show and it was definitely enjoyable and had some (actually a lot of, but maybe I'm just easily amused) hilarious moments and a great show stopping number (Rocking the Boat).

ALSO, although my feet were a little tired, standing room meant we were right near the exit and got to be right in front at the stage door to meet who? The lovely Lauren Graham of Gilmore Girls fame! I grew up on that show and man I love her, she is so funny! And she was a very entertaining and hilarious (though again, not absolutely fantastic) Adelaide.

I let a little bit of my inner fan girl out (I'm usually a bit too embarassed to let her show) and got Ms. Graham's autograph (though I do always get my playbills signed... I'm still lusting after Mary Louise Parker's autograph from Hedda... alas) and snapped this picture. Ah, Lauren Graham is so great and was really nice and funny in person too, and although she didn't take individual pictures with anyone she explained to us that was because she wanted to get around and sign everyone's playbills ;) Anyway, happy times.

Alright kudos to anyone who actually read all of this. I know most of you probably just looked at the pictures and then when you got to the one of Lauren Graham maybe paused to read what it was about. Haha, it's ok, I would have done that too.

Anyway, in closing: my flickr is officially full so until I decide it's worth paying for it I will be using a combination of picnik and photobucket for my pictures, so if anyone finds they have trouble viewing anything, let me know. Also, I am going to set a goal of at least one post a week from now on, I think that is semi-reasonable for myself, but we shall see. And finally, I am going to try and find some good outdoor photo locations for taking pics up at school, though it's kind of hard to find a secluded spot on a campus of 13,000 (and I'm embarassed to run into someone I know while I'm photographing myself, haha) ... especially when you still don't have a tripod and therefore need somewhere to balance your camera. haha.

Well, anyway, goodninght,

and regards,
Freddie

Color Block

2009-03-16T00:02:00.000-04:00

So the weeks from hell are over, and I have returned! I'm on spring break now, and while I'm still a busy bee, I actually have time for blogging again, hooray! However, I have to admit that I've been afraid to check on my bloglines... for fear that the quantity of unread posts will crash my computer! haha. But I will catch up at least somewhat- I promise. But until I do, I at least have a few things to show you:

Thing 1:
Fabulous gift bow headband. Confession: I did not actually wear this to class with the outfit pictured, I wore it for an "anything but clothes" party with a dress I made out of plastic bags and stuck small gift bows all over. However, the big bow headband was too fab not to show off, even if I'm too much of a wimp to rock it in everyday life. I'm thinking I might make a medium sized one to actually wear though. This giant bow now resides on my wall at school.

{old KD shirt--a gift from my big big, second hand and reconned skirt,
giant bow headband made by me, black leggings and boots - ?}

Thing 2:
Floral docs. I finally found an affordable pair of floral docs in my size on ebay. I'm a little bit in love with them and get lots of compliments on them too. Although I have a feeling some of them may be the kind of compliments you give the girl in the neon orange parka just because she stands out so much that you feel the need to comment. haha. But that's ok with me.

{excuse the horrendous mess in the background, though I did think it made for kind of a fun picture...
I bet you can spot a lot of recognizable items, I Spy anyone?}

Thing 3:
Today's outfit... and a picture taken outdoors! OMG. I took these this evening on my roof. I was very primary today by nature of my trying to pack light--I mostly packed neutral colors (blue is neutral, right? haha) and my red cardigan. The blazer is one that my mom and I share and resides at home. I ended up grabbing it today since it was definitely too warm for my green jacket--hooray! I even sat outside and read a little of A Servant of Two Masters in the park since I was a bit early going to see my friend as the lovely Emily Arden in CAP21's production of State Fair.

{headband by me, urban striped top, vintage cardigan, target blazer, secondhand reconned skirt,
white tights - ?, vintage boots, and [title of show] bag}

Thing 4:
My costume design sketches for Tartuffe! Our costume unit ended about a week or so before break... I think... it feels so long ago I can't even remember. Though now we are on to lighting so I won't really be able to take a picture of that to share with you, haha.

Anyway... guess I'm off to catch up on blogs. Uh... maybe... don't blame me for being afraid!! haha

Regards,
Freddie

Oh, P.S. speaking of costumes, have you folks seen Australia? I watched it tonight and it was amazing, though long, and Nicole Kidman's outfits were absolutely to die for!

I Fail

2009-02-21T16:23:00.001-05:00

I'm sorry for my sudden disappearance, but school seems to have caught up with me :( It may be like this until mid-March or so, but I really am going to try and post some! I hope you are all enjoying fashion week and such while I am busy trying to design and draw costumes for men who look like this:

and for women who look like this:

However, to tide you over while I am slightly blog deficient, check out the links on the side to blogs I like, they are awesome!

Oh, and also, we made it to MTV! ... .com. haha, they cut out our segment but at least it's online... except for the whole girl scout charity event I was involved with was reduced to a 1/2 a second snap shot. Alas. If you look in the bottom right corner at the end of the clip you can see me for that split second, lol. Oh well, we tried, right? ;)

http://www.mtv.com/videos/misc/343790/sorority-sisters.jhtml#

Regards,
Freddie

A Belated Happy Singles Appreciation Day...

2009-02-16T16:04:00.001-05:00

I would tell you I had too busy a weekend to post, but for perhaps the first time in my life, that would be a lie. I spent a lot of the weekend going out and being lazy, but I know that soon I will have to crack down on my work again. Have to enjoy it while it last though, right?

{h&m shirt, velvety free people skirt worn under reconstructed coup de cour skirt,
tights - ?, shoes from a place called shoegasm}

I love these shoes. And they were just perfect for Valentine's Day.... check out the heels:

Anyway, when I say I've been lazy, I really do mean it... I haven't even been lapping up the fashion week collections, aside from drooling over what other bloggers have been posting. I guess that's the easiest/laziest window in for me... haha.

More from me soon though, I promise.

Regards,
Freddie