December's Grace

It's a beautiful day in Seattle.

2012-02-07T17:16:00.001-05:00

Today was the first day in quite awhile that I have been able to walk around outside in a short sleeve shirt with no coat. It was a bit chilly in the shade, but it was so wonderful. I even went outside to take an outfit photo! This is a really typical daily outfit for me (skirt, t-shirt, belt), especially during the warmer months. During cold months, tights and a cardigan are generally added to the get-up.

What I'm Wearing:

Skirt--Goodwill in PA

V-Neck Tee--K-Mart

Belt--Forever21

Shoes--TOM'S

Necklace--Hand-me-down from my great-grandmother.

Earrings that you can't see--Gabriel Brothers

Movies I'm Looking Forward to in 2012...

2012-01-02T12:21:00.003-05:00

2012 is going to be a fantastic year for movies. The main two that I'm looking forward to are The Hobbit and The Hunger Games, but there are many others which I'm also looking forward to seeing.

The Trailer-less Ones
Les Miserables and The Great Gatsby. They're both classic pieces of literature turned movie, and both are coming out in December 2012. I'm eagerly awaiting their arrivals.

Fairytales

Despite the fact that I'm not a huge Kristen Stewart fan, Snow White and the Huntsman looks like it will actually be a pretty good movie.

I'm a sucker for fairytales, and Jack and the Giant Killer isn't often told.

Animated

Brave is the newest Pixar movie, and I am so looking forward to seeing it. The main character's crazy red hair is fantastic, and it's set in Scotland. Plus, it's Pixar. What more could we ask for in a movie?

I first heard about this movie because David Tennant (the 10th Doctor in Doctor Who) is voicing Charles Darwin, but when I realized that Pirates! is by the same people that brought us Chicken Run and Wallace & Grommit, I became even more enthusiastic about it.

Romantic Comedy

I'm not often one for Romantic Comedies, but One for the Money actually looks really good.

Superhero

It's going to be a good year for Superhero movies. Here we have the much-anticipated third and final installment of the Batman series. I am super excited after seeing how fantastic The Dark Knight was. Plus, I originally hail from Western PA, and The Dark Knight Rises was filmed in Pittsburgh, it will be great.

Then we've got the reboot of the Spiderman franchise. We'll see, but it looks really good.

The Avengers is bringing back our favorite Marvel superheroes, and having them save the world together. How awesome is that? Iron Man, Thor, and Captain America? Awesome.

Then we have Men in Black III--perhaps not a Superhero movie, per se, but a similar dynamic.

The Epics

You can't have a list of the anticipated movies of 2012 without saying something about The Hunger Games. I loved the books, and while I'm not 100% sure about all their casting choices, this movie is looking to be extremely good.

Finally, we have The Hobbit. There was not question in my mind that this would be on this list. When the trailer first came out, I watched it around five times in a row. I've watched it more since. This is probably the movie I anticipate the most in this coming year. Come December, I have a Midnight release to attend.

"...and now it's time for Silly Songs with Larry..." [Veggie Tales: The Early Early Days '93-'97]

2011-11-08T17:44:00.002-05:00

"...the part of the show where Larry comes out and sings...a silly song..."

These words were a major part of my childhood, as I devoured the Veggie Tales movies. I sang the songs, I memorized the dialogue, I loved Veggie Tales. I still definitely appreciate Veggie Tales, particularly because for sentimental reasons, but I do think that the quality has gone down over the years. Perhaps this is just because they are not as applicable to me anymore. One thing about Veggie Tales that I still love, though, is the Silly Songs with Larry portion to each movie.

It all started with "Everybody's Got a Water Buffalo"

No matter how old I get, every time the words "water buffalo" are spoken, I will begin to sing.

Then came "The Hairbrush Song"

This one is even more useful than the "Water Buffalo Song," because it's more common to have lost a hairbrush than to be talking about water buffalo.

"Dance of the Cucumber" comes next

Children are now being introduced to the Spanish language--the fact that a cucumber is a "pepino." Also, wearing a sombrero is cool...and it's part of Larry's "authentic Argentinian garb!"

Of course, "I Love my Lips" is another classic favorite

While watching this, children gain a new appreciation for their lips, and a few children may in fact be inspired to become Psychiatrists, if only to interact with delusional cucumbers named Larry. Oh, and they'll know how to say "lips" in Polish--always a useful skill.

Then the first Christmas movie comes out with "Oh Santa"

It's actually somewhat surprising that Veggie Tales actually has a song about Santa Claus, but I couldn't care less. This song is always fun, and it teaches children to dislike IRS agents, even ones that are peaches. Oh yes, and it teaches sharing, even with thieving Savage Norsemen and Bank Robbers.

Before the pretty terrible "Pirates Who Don't Do Anything" movie, there was a wonderful Silly Song that started it all...

This song is incredibly catchy, hilarious, and pretty much pointless, but it's a Silly Song--what do you expect?

And then came "Song of the Cebu"

This one always had special significance to me because I had a baby doll names Baby Boo, and I was convinced that the song was saying "Say Boo." Back to the meaning of the song, though, modern children will learn about the "stone age" version of Power Point--the slideshow with actual physical slides.

This has been Silly Songs With Larry...join us next time to watch some more shenanigans with Larry, Archibald, Mr. Lunt, and.Barbara Manatee.

Villainous, Sinister October Playlist

2011-10-29T02:42:00.001-04:00

Since it is Halloween season and everything, I have created a lovely Villainous playlist. It consists of a bunch of Disney Villain songs, a few showtunes, and even a veggie tales tune or two. Just keep in mind that a few of the showtunes might have a few derogatory words or themes.

Memories of Indonesia

2011-08-06T17:07:00.003-04:00

If you know me personally, you most likely know that I spent about a year in Indonesia in 2000, when I was 7-years-old. My family lived on the then-called "Irian Jaya," which is presently known as Papua. It shares the large island with Papua New Guinea. The shape of the island itself is said to resemble a bird of paradise, and Papua is on the "head side."

In December-January 2010, my family and I went back to visit my grandparents who still live and work there.This is an extremely picture heavy post, so after the first couple of pictures, the rest will be after the jump.

The Papuan landscape is so incredibly beautiful.

Also, for many of my American friends who have never seen a pineapple plant...

If you're a tourist, and you're visiting Indonesia, you usually end up in Bali, or Sumatra, or on Java.

There are very few tourists on the island of Papua. It is the largest of the Indonesian islands, yet, it is largely unspoilt by masses of American tourists.

As a result, you will meet very few people who speak English, but if you want an authentic experience, this is to be expected.

...and from these little eggs...

...come Cicaks (Chee-chocks)! They are everywhere. On the outside of buildings, on the inside of buildings. They eat the bugs though, so as long as the cicaks stay off of me, they are welcome in the house.

It was the Christmas season when we visited, and the Indonesian tradition of building Christmas-huts was everywhere. There is also very loud Christmas music playing throughout the day, well past Christmas.

One day, we decided to go to the beach. We were on a tropical island after all. We had to hire someone to take us there by boat. There was no one there. It was the quietest, most pristine beach I've been to.

The water was so clear, you could easily see the sand beneath it.

Along with beautiful landscapes, there is beautiful floral and fauna. I have one of these flowers pressed in a notebook.


...and here is proof that I was indeed there in Indonesia. This was taken from outside my grandparent's house.

Papua is a land of beauty, of delicious tropical fruit, of tasty food, of smiling people. It is also a land of extreme heat and humidity, of poverty, of unregulated garbage disposal, and you will be hard-pressed to find a toilet that doesn't require squatting. Even with all of the perhaps unpleasant aspects to Indonesian culture through the eyes of a spoiled American, I would not trade my experiences there for anything in the world, and I would go back to visit in a heartbeat. There are good things and bad things, just as there are in all cultures, and ultimately, it's what you take from the experience that matters--what you choose to focus on.

Meet Theia

2011-07-27T10:30:00.001-04:00

Another doll has joined my doll family. Perhaps someday, I'll work up the courage to sell them, but I'm currently attached to these little bits of fabric and work to try and relocate them. That said, if anyone reading this blog has a desire to own one or these dolls, or one like them that is in personalized colors and/or style of dress, contact me at decembergrace13@gmail.com. I'll work up a price estimate, and we'll negotiate.

Anyways though, business aside, meet Theia! She has long, silky, black hair, and piercing green eyes. She wears a navy blue, flowered skirt, and a pink bandeau. A lace shirt overlays that, and is accented with assorted silver-spiral jewelry.

As with all of my dolls, Theia's clothing and jewelry are completely hand-sewn, and hand-designed.

Theia's hair is held back in an elaborate twist with two pearl-tipped "chopsticks" hat pins.


The jewelry that adorns Theia's wrist, neck, and upper arm are hand-twisted from bits of silver wire.

Here is a close-up of the pink bandeau, overlayed with the lace top.


Before, Theia and I bid you adieu, here is the back view. The skirt and bandeau close with snaps, and the shirt is somewhat stretchy.

And now, we will leave Theia to sit and gaze at the world.

Foam Rollers and Pearls

2011-07-15T14:23:00.001-04:00

I tried sleeping with foam rollers in my hair last night. The result was a fluffy, super-curly mess. I attempted to contain it with bobby pins, but it just didn’t look right, so I added my bright purple hat. It looked okay, but I am not used to wearing hats, so I decided to go all out, and balance the hat out with a skirt and heels. My Indonesian pearls, and my Peruvian earrings added some more color to my ensemble. I’m not sure if I will actually leave the house like this, but it was a crazy enough outfit for me, I thought it warranted documentation.

[Relatively] Modest Swimwear for Under $100--2011 Edition

2011-05-15T21:00:00.000-04:00

It's that time of year again, when people either get suddenly frightened or suddenly excited at the prospect of swimsuit season. For those of us who it frightens, I've put together a list of cute, one-piece bathing suits that aren't too horribly expensive. I've capped the entries at $100.

Venezia Cascata

These two swimsuits from Shabby Apple, were the best and most surprising find for me this year. They're both gorgeous one-piece swimsuits that price at $82 each. They're not extremely cheap, but they are about half the price of similarly-styled swimsuits I found at department store websites.

Row 1: Ann Taylor LOFT ColorBlock One-Piece $80, Walmart Shirred Halter Swimsuit $32, Kohl's Bandeau One-Piece Swimsuit $78
Row 2: Ruche Sunshine Splendor $79.99, dELiA's Ruched Tankini $25, Bon-Ton Nautica® Ring Swim Dress - Red $74

Row 1: Retro one piece swimwear $90, dELiA*s B. Swim Tutu One-Piece $85, Retro one piece swimwear $90
Row 2: dELiA*s Shirring Bandeau One-Piece $35, Retro one piece swimwear $90, dELiA*s Clinched Bandeau One-Piece $35

Lastly, we have the obligatory Modcloth and dELiA*s bathing suits that remain fairly consistent through the years. The famous ModCloth "Bathing Beauty One-Piece" comes in several new patterns and colors this year, including the Red Checkered, Pewter, and Royal Plaid shown. They sell for $89.99, a little on the pricier side, but they have great reviews and are apparently extremely flattering.

The dELiA*s suits vary a little more slightly. The "B. Swim Tutu One-Piece" shown in the first row is priced at $84.50, but the two Bandeau One-Pieces on the bottom row come in at only $34.50.

Long-Sleeved Royals...

2011-05-09T19:00:00.001-04:00

An old blog post of mine lauded the under-rated beauty of long-sleeve wedding dresses. Recently, a little-known wedding took place--between Prince William and Kate Middleton. She wore a long-sleeve wedding dress, and it was absolutely beautiful.

In some respects, it is similar to the wedding dress Grace Kelly wore when she wedded the Prince of Monaco.

These are both gorgeous royal wedding dresses--both long-sleeve. Perhaps we will be seeing more long-sleeve wedding gowns emerge in popular culture soon.

Living Forever: Tuck Everlasting vs. Twilight

2011-05-08T19:00:00.000-04:00

    Before there was Twilight, there was Tuck Everlasting.

   First let it be known that I’m indifferent to Twilight. I don’t particularly like it, but I don’t hate it either. It’s not generally something I dwell on; however, having read all of the books in the series, and having lived through the Twilight craze that swept the nation, it is impressed in my brain. Whether I want it to or not, I will always understand Twilight references. That said, my main purpose for this posting is not to talk about Twilight, but rather to talk about how the topic of living forever is addressed in children’s/young adult’s books.

   I re-watched Tuck Everlasting this evening. I haven’t seen it since before Twilight existed. I appreciated its meaning more than I ever did as a child, but I couldn’t help noticing that Winnie Foster from Tuck Everlasting, and Bella Swann from Twilight, both faced similar decisions. The men they loved were both fated to live eternally. In order for either girl to be with their man, they were faced with the decision of whether or not to forsake a natural life and to live forever.
In general, Bella takes no heed of warnings about living an eternal, vampiric life. Both Carlisle and Edward try to make her understand the implications of her becoming a vampire, but she listens to neither, she is too inflamed by her self-destructive love for Edward that she does not care about her own soul, but only for being with him forever. At one point, she exclaims “I don’t care! You can have my soul. I don’t want it without you” (Meyers). Perhaps she pondered the issue more in another instance, but throughout the entire series, she is longing to be a vampire, and fearing to remain a human. She is scared to death of growing old, and surpassing Edward in physical age. Her passions are self-destructive.

     Winnie wants to love forever with Jesse, but after a discussion with Tuck, she deeply considers the consequences of her drinking of the water that would make her never die. Tuck tells her: “If I knowed how to climb back on the wheel, I’d do it in a minute. You can’t have living without dying. So you can’t call it living what we got. We just are, we just be, like rocks beside the road” (Babbitt 64). This coupled with Miles’ emotional recounting of what he’s been through since drinking of the stream, give Winnie adequate context for what she’d be doing to her life. She does seriously contemplate drinking the water, she loves Jesse, but in the end she chooses to live a normal, mortal life. As the narrator say at the end of the movie version of Tuck Everlasting, “Tuck said it to Winnie the summer she turned 15: Do not fear death, but rather the unlived life. You don’t have to live forever. You just have to live. And she did.”

     Both girls have difficult, life-altering choices to make, but in the end, Winnie makes the wiser decision. She realizes that she does not want to live forever, even if it means she could be with the boy she loves. She wants to live life the way it is supposed to be lived. She is not self-destructive, even though she chooses the path that will eventually bring her death. She realizes that humans are not meant to live forever. Bella cannot see her dependent, reason-inhibiting passion she has for Edward. Winnie is the wiser one for thinking through the consequences of both courses she has set before her.

     Twilight became a sensation; it would be safe to say that nearly everyone in the United States has at least heard of the Twilight franchise. Yet, the much lesser-known book Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt is the more intelligent, thoughtful display of what humanity could and should be.

Red

2011-05-07T15:06:00.001-04:00

I am not like most people. When most people have mid-terms/finals, they dress simply and comfortably--often wearing sweats. I'm not sure why, but I have a track record of dressing up for test days. Granted, I dress up the majority of days in a week, and I never wear sweatpants outside of my dorm, but on test days, for some unexplainable reason, I find myself making an extra effort. Maybe it's my way of energizing myself, or maybe I'm subconsciously trying to forget about the test, but whatever the reason, this is the outfit I found myself in yesterday morning. All dressed up, and nowhere to go but a mid-term. While the outfit itself is not extremely unusual for me, I rarely wear lipstick, because it's too much of a hassle. Something possessed me to wear it, though, and somehow it didn't make too much of a mess.

Jeans--Charlotte Russe

Blouse--Thrifted from Goodwill

Belt--Forever21

Tank-top--Wet Seal

Kitten Heels--Rue21

Earrings--Charlotte Russe

Meet Echo-Rosamund

2011-05-03T01:30:00.002-04:00

Once again, I have completed a doll. Her name is Echo-Rosamund, and she enjoys dressing up like a fairy. She enjoys ballet, opera, and musical theatre.

When she is not enjoying the performing arts, she communes with nature, climbing trees and smelling flowers.

She has thick, shoulder-length brown hair, which she keeps tied in two low ponytails to add to the whimsy. Her eyes are bright blue, and she wears a flowery fairy dress. The tiers of floral fabric are interspersed with a dark brown dotted fabric, and her bodice is wing-shaped, adding to the fairy allusion.

Mirror

2011-04-26T02:07:00.001-04:00

"I am silver and exact. I have no preconceptions.

Whatever I see I swallow immediately
Just as it is, unmisted by love or dislike.
I am not cruel, only truthful--
The eye of a little god, four-cornered.
Most of the time I meditate on the opposite wall.
It is pink, with speckles. I have looked at it so long
I think it is part of my heart. But it flickers.
Faces and darkness separate us over and over."

"Now I am a lake. A woman bends over me,
Searching my reaches for what she really is.
Then she turns to those liars, the candles or the moon.
I see her back, and reflect it faithfully.
She rewards me with tears and an agitation of hands.
I am important to her. She comes and goes.
Each morning it is her face that replaces the darkness.
In me she has drowned a young girl, and in me an old woman
Rises toward her day after day, like a terrible fish."

--"Mirror" by Sylvia Plath

Exodus, Garden State, and the Weather...

2011-04-23T19:08:00.000-04:00

It is such a beautiful day in Seattle today--indeed, it's been a beautiful week. Today, though, is especially gorgeous. Sunny days automatically induce a sense of joy and energy in me. I feel this urge to sing and twirl around in circles. Adding to this sense of well-being, yesterday I watched a movie and finished a book--both of which I truly enjoyed. It's not common that I'm so lucky.

The book in question was Exodus by Julie Bertagna. It's a Young Adult book that I checked out from the library on a whim. And though there are some pretty overt undertones made about the imminence and danger of global warming, it read more like a fantasy to me. It took place on Earth, but it was an Earth that was almost completely flooded due to the polar ice caps melting. The scientists have created "cities in the sky," but the people living in the cities are kept unaware of the hundreds of refugees surrounding the sea-wall surrounding the city. It is a fifteen-year-old girl, Mara, who takes it upon herself to save her people from their drowning island as the water continues to rise. They find themselves outside of New Mungo, one of the sky cities, but they are banned from entering the city itself. It's a fascinating story--almost poetic in form, and I would definitely be eager to read the sequel, Zenith.

On a completely different note, I watched the movie "Garden State" last night. It was quirky. The beginning was intentionally rather slow, due to the main character's apathy-inducing anti-anxiety medications. When his mom dies, he finds himself back in his hometown with none of hisdrugs, and he begins to truly experience life. He meets a sweet, naive, girl who also happens to be a pathological liar. He reconnects with his drug-addicted, grave-robbing childhood friends. He tries to reconcile with his father, who is the one who put him on the numbing drugs in the first place. The relationships between the characters, the circumstances they find themselves in, and the dialog are constantly awkward, yet simultaneously funny and sometimes sweet. If you're particularly sensitive to the F-Word, be aware that it is the swear word of choice for many of the characters, but if you can get past the language, there is a sweet and salty story of love and friendship to be found.

SAG Awards Red Carpet 2011

2011-01-31T22:39:00.001-05:00

Though I didn't watch the SAG Awards, I did some research on the style found on the red carpet.

My Favorites (in no particular order...)

Meet Vivianne

2011-01-11T00:20:00.000-05:00

Vivianne is the newest doll to join my collection of completed dolls. Of the dolls I've outfitted, this is probably my least favorite set of clothing, but in keeping with tradition, everything is completely hand-sewn, as is Vivianne herself.

Meet Vivianne...

She has black/dark brown hair down to her hips, and shining blue-green eyes. She's dressed in pink floral halter top and a light denim skirt. As with all the dolls I have made from this pattern, she is completely poseable and has snaps on her hands, to allow hand-holding with other dolls.

Snow, Spiderwebs, Seattle

2010-11-26T22:06:00.002-05:00

The snow-covered strands

Of the spider's silken web

Pulsed in the wind, desolate

Cold, yet beautiful

A musical life.

2010-11-19T04:12:00.000-05:00

I love music. I'm also really picky about the music I choose to listen to. The music I do listen to is mostly obscure, and vocally or orchestrally driven. I'm not typically a fan of electric guitars, basses, and drums. This isn't a concrete stance on my part, but in general, the throbbing, grating noise that these instruments make is over-emphasized, and I don't appreciate it. For a band to be successful in my mind, it must either incorporate something unusual, like a violin, or a piano--not an electric keyboard--or it must have really strong lyrics and vocals. Compelling, clever lyrics are one of the most important facets of a good song, and good instrumentals are always a positive thing.
When I truly want to appreciate a song, I turn it up loud, and get lost in the music. If it's a truly good song, it's an all-encompassing, incredible feeling. It's a feeling that inspires me to dance, no matter what I might look like while doing so.

These are three of my current favorite songs.

The Classic Crime's "Seattle" is a favorite, mainly because of my current location, but I really do enjoy the melody.

Emiliana Torrini's "The Boy Who Giggled So Sweet" is an incredible song. It's vocally driven, it incorporates strings into the instrumentation, and the melody is hauntingly beautiful.

On a completely different note, Gungor's "God is Not a White Man" is a cute and enjoyable song, that I happen to agree with quite strongly. The video is perfect, and the tune is catchy, yet unique.

Bangs, My Future, and Playing Dress-Up

2010-09-20T23:32:00.000-04:00

It's been awhile since I've posted any blogs, and it's mainly because I haven't really had anything to post about. However, this is about to change, as I'm flying to the other side of the country to start college tomorrow afternoon. Currently, nerves have overtaken any excitement at the present time, but hopefully soon this dread of growing up and becoming an adult will ease up a little bit.
To make myself seem older, and to ready myself for college life, I went and got bangs cut in my hair. I haven't had bangs since I was seven, so it's kind of a big deal for me. I love them! They honestly do make me feel my age.

On a different note, I've been hanging out with friends quite a bit, as I'll be gone until Christmas. Yesterday, I had the pleasure of dressing up in pretty dresses and having a photo shoot with my friend Julianna. Here are some of my favorites...

Long-Sleeve Wedding Dresses

2010-08-09T21:24:00.000-04:00

Well, I have no reason to be looking at wedding dresses, I'm only 17. However, pretty dresses make me happy.

So, I thought I'd write a post about an under-appreciated style of wedding dress that I sometimes like a lot--the long-sleeved wedding dress. I know what you're thinking..."wedding dresses with long sleeves are frumpy and old-fashioned." Here are some examples, though, that could prove that stereotype incorrect. These are some of my favorite wedding dresses that I've seen on the internet, and they just happen to have sleeves.

First of all we have this number from Etsy.com. It's simple, but elegant and unique.

Then there's this Kleinfeld Kollection beauty that I found on theKnot.com. This has to be one of my favorite wedding dresses that I've found, and I think I spied it worn by Broadway star Lea Salonga at her wedding...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji3bEFoBYtA

And I'm not sure where this one's from, but it was in one of my files. The bodice could be considered old-fashioned, but the gathered skirt keeps it modern.

Then there's this stunner that I found through Goole Images on AngelMarry.com. I think it would take a lot of confidence to pull off this dress. If someone were at all unsure about this dress, they'd be swallowed up in ruffles, but it is absolutely gorgeous.

And while this isn't an actual wedding dress, Padme's dress from Star Wars: Ep. II is gorgeous. I love everything about it--especially the veil. And just look at those sleeves. I found this picture on thePadawansGuide.com.

Classy Bohemian?

2010-07-18T20:34:00.000-04:00

Defining your style can be difficult and I struggled to put into words my own personal style. The closest phrase I could come up with is "Classy Bohemian." I enjoy the free-flowing, comfortable look of the Boho style, but I love clean-cut, classic lines as well.

Dress--Gabriel Brothers

Belt--Forever21, I believe
Shoes--Gabes
Necklace--Forever21
Earrings--Charlotte Russe

This was my church outfit today. It was so comfortable and I got several compliments on my dress. :)

On another note, I ended up applying to 8 schools last fall and I got accepted to each of them. I then set to narrowing those choices down. My top two were Anderson University and Seattle Pacific University. It was a close call, but the adventurous side of me won out and I'm going to SPU. People continually ask me why I'm going so far away from my home in PA, and I really don't have a specific reason. I just liked the school, okay? :) It had great programs and off-campus opportunities, and it doesn't hurt that Seattle is a gorgeous city.

Let's just call her Caroline....

2010-06-03T23:17:00.002-04:00

This is Caroline...a graduation gift for a friend. I wanted this doll to resemble her slightly, so I had to give Caroline some curls. Some cornstarch, gelatin, water, and toothpicks later, curls existed.

Caroline and her clothes are completely hand-sewn and designed by chance. Basically, I pictured what I wanted, cut some random pieces and sewed until it looked like what I pictured. I also made "pearl" seed bead necklace.

Thoughts from a Teenage Pastor's Kid.

2010-04-28T21:51:00.004-04:00

What is it about being a pastor’s kid that makes people look at you differently? You get to know someone, but as soon as they find out your dad’s a pastor, they see you in a new light. Somehow you’re holier than thou, even though you’re no different than you were before your family tree was made known. Their perception of you has changed.

There are two stereotypical pastor’s kids—the goody two-shoes, and the bad-to-the-bone rebel. Why do people feel the need to push us into one of these categories? There aren’t stereotypical lawyer’s kids or plumber’s kids. Why pastor’s kids? I don’t really fit either category, though I gravitate more towards the goody two-shoes end of the spectrum, simply because that’s my personality. I hate to be known as that, though. I’m simply a very private girl who happens to have a rather large dash of morality and common sense.

I hate it when people feel the need to edit their language around me, and step cautiously. No, I don’t necessarily enjoy hearing the f-word every other syllable, but there’s a stigma when people find out you’re a pastor’s kid. They’re not watching their language because they really care; they’re watching their language because there’s some innate fear that I’m going to make my daddy condemn them to hell. Yeah right.

I’m human. He’s human. You’re human. We all sin, and just because I’m a pastor’s kid doesn’t mean that I’m going to walk around handing out tracts and bashing people over the heads with the word of God. I have my personal faith, and it has nothing to do with who my dad is. It has to do with me.

I understand that it can be uncomfortable to be around someone who believes differently than you, but I’m still a person. I have feelings, and I’m not going to judge you; I just hope you don’t judge me. I have no qualms about my dad being a pastor. I just don’t like the way people react. I’m not perfect, so don’t expect me to be perfect. Don’t be scared of me; don’t be scared of my family. We’re all human; I promise.

The Lovely 1910's

2010-04-17T23:52:00.001-04:00

I've recently become interested in the fashions of the 1910's. The dresses from Titanic were beautiful, of course, but so were the real-life ones.

[http://content.lib.washington.edu/u?/costumehist,256]
This is one of my favorites. Grey. Practical. Beautiful. And there's even lace and flowers.

[http://content.lib.washington.edu/u?/costumehist,265]
This one looks a lot more practical than some of the other styles from this decade.

[http://content.lib.washington.edu/u?/costumehist,303]
Colorful, and lacking a hobble skirt...which is probably a good thing.

[http://content.lib.washington.edu/u?/costumehist,234]
Those hobble skirts would be pretty impractical, but it's definitely a unique silhouette.

[http://content.lib.washington.edu/u?/costumehist,315]
I love the sheer layers on this dress.

[http://content.lib.washington.edu/u?/costumehist,358]
I love the dotted fabric, and the floatiness of it.

[http://content.lib.washington.edu/u?/costumehist,209]
I love the colors in this dress, and the style of it grabs my attention as well; although, it would probably be considered an ugly maternity dress in the 21st century.

[http://content.lib.washington.edu/u?/costumehist,215]
This is actually technically lingerie, but I think it's pretty enough to be a dress...

[http://content.lib.washington.edu/u?/costumehist,257]
This is simply a gorgeous dress....

[http://content.lib.washington.edu/u?/costumehist,210]
...As is this, and it would probably pass in modern day, maybe with a little less material around the stomach...

[http://content.lib.washington.edu/u?/costumehist,292]
You can't really see this wedding dress, but the veil is absolutely stunning.

[http://content.lib.washington.edu/u?/costumehist,398]
Along with the beautiful styles of the 1910's, there were also a lot of silly ones. This one makes me smile; it reminds me of a tornado of sunshine.

[http://content.lib.washington.edu/u?/costumehist,347]
Here's another silly contribution. Here you can clearly see the Asian influence...taken a little too far....

Soul-Flower...

2010-04-16T23:48:00.001-04:00

In my last post, I mentioned that there had been two brands that had recently caught my eye. The first was Ruche. The second is Soul-Flower. My bohemian side loves this company. No, I don't particularly like patchwork, tie-dye, or peace signs...but that's the hippie end of it anyways. I'm more interested in the colors, the embroidery, and the flowy styles. Here are some of my favorite Soul-Flower products...

[Tie-Dye Tank Dress--$30] [Kind of Blue Sundress--$36]

[Fan-Tastic Cami--$38] [Teal Tomorrow Kurta--$36]

[Re-Riva Diva Pants--$42]

[Big N Brite Bracelet--$8] [Spiral Wood Earrings--$26]

Ruche...

2010-04-14T19:15:00.001-04:00

Recently, I have discovered two clothing lines that make me happy. The first is Ruche. Think Anthropologie, with dELiA*s prices. It's tagline is "A Modern Boutique with a Vintage Touch." That's my kind of clothing store; vintage and modern at the same time, and not too expensive at that. This discovery definitely plays toward my girly, ruffly side, while the second discovery plays more toward my fun, bohemian angle. These are some examples of my favorite girly, ruffly pieces from Ruche.

[Costa Rica Festival Dress]

[Ivory Floral Picket Sweater Dress]

[Callista English Lace Cardi]

[Sailor's Touch Tank]

[Celestial Embroidery Tank]

[Pedal Pusher Linen Capris]

[Rapunzel Scarf]

[Grab Some Shade Linen Floppy Hat]

[Agate Camellia Ring]

Regency Ball...

2010-04-05T19:15:00.000-04:00

This month, I had the unique experience of attending a Regency Ball. A pleasant, courteous attitude were required, and full regency costume, and a British accent were recommended. Of course, I decided to take this opportunity and sew myself a Regency dress. That said, I, of course, waited until the last minute to make my dress. The ball was on Saturday.

Monday, I scouted Jo-Ann's. Tuesday, I purchased my pattern and materials from JoAnn's. Wednesday, I cut the pattern pieces out. Thursday, I sewed the bodice. Friday, I attached sleeves, and then had to attend Regency Dance Practice. Saturday, I had a commitment in the afternoon. My mom decided to finish the skirt while I was away. Thank God. I got home, has some final fittings, did my hair and make-up, and ran out the door.

This is the result of my "hard" work.It was a windy, chilly day...

Here are some of my Regency friends, and I...we labeled ourselves the "Bennet Sisters;" I was Elizabeth.

Mary Bennet, Lydia Bennet, Jane Bennet, Elizabeth Bennet, Kitty Bennet

After everyone arrived, we proceeded to dance in an English Country fashion. So. Much. Fun. I would do this every month if possible.

A Pointe Shoe Story

2010-03-25T10:42:00.001-04:00

This is one of my pairs of Capezio pointe shoes. Dead.

Here is the old, dead Capezio pointe shoe--a pointe shoe saint...halo and everything.

Newcomer, Grishko, is at odds with my old steady Capezio.

The ballet graveyard has some new interments.

This is a foretelling of what is to come with my new Grishkos. They last me a month before succumbing to pointe shoe death. A new pair of Capezios have joined the ranks.

Vintage Runway?

2010-03-15T10:37:00.002-04:00

I came across a review of the Louis Vuitton Fall 2010 by Marc Jacobs. While the review wasn't positive, I enjoyed much of the question. The reviewer said that the clothing styles made the models look frumpy, and the fabrics were too heavy. I do agree about the fabric being very heavy, but it wasn't as awful as what they said. However, I didn't particularly like the plastic-like skirts, the shapeless coats, and the weird sweater-covered skirts. They were mainly 50's-inspired dresses and skirts with a slightly edgy take to them, though, so I was happy.

Here were some of my favorite looks from this particular collection...

This was one of my favorites. The floral contrast nicely with the black belt and edging, giving an edgier feel to this otherwise pretty, feminine ensemble.

I love this silhouette; the plaid skirt, the wool coat and the edginess of the corset top work together well. The feminine bow belt balances out the look.

These three are very similar in style, but I wanted to show the different fabrics, and colors. While I don't condone showy necklines, I'll admit that I do still like these dress and skirt ensembles. The first is a semi-formal black dress that would be perfect to go dancing in. The second has slightly cooler notes than the others of this collection. The tweed plaid skirt contrasts nicely with the halter top. Finally, the third look has a full, floral skirt, and a square neckline. The juxtaposition of corset-like tops paired with circle skirts is particularly pleasing.

These three contributed to the outerwear/business category--the jacket and dress combinations are beautiful. The first pictures shows a beautiful brown plaid dress with a brown wool jacket; they perfectly complement each other. The second is a blazer and dress ensemble, and even though they're both the same color, they go perfectly together. The third is rather like the first, though it is black, and is probably suitable for an evening event rather than work.

Finally, these were the only formal selections that I decided to include, as they maintain the classic 50's hem-lengths and the neutral color scheme. They're not the heavy wools and tweeds that the other ensembles were. The second reminded me of one of Audrey Hepburn's gowns in Roman Holiday. In other words, I love it.

I love that Marc Jacobs incorporated so much vintage style into this line, and I find it sad that there were so many negative reviews. Some of these dresses/skirt ensembles are rather gorgeous. Well, the pictures will remain for us to admire.

Cute, One-Piece Bathing Suits...

2010-03-12T19:40:00.002-05:00

The snow is still melting at my house currently, but that doesn't stop me from thinking ahead to summer. After all, bathing suits require a lot of careful planning and money managing....it's amazing how expensive those little bits of fabric can be. In addition, I dislike wearing swimsuits, because so many of them are so skimpy. It's hard to find decent one-piece bathing suits that don't look awful. Here are some that I've found throughout my journey on the internet.

First of all, I have this swim suit from dELiA*s. It has a cute pattern, it's one piece, the legs are boy cut...and it's really cute in person. One of my friends has this swimsuit, and I love it. $44.50 retail price.

Here's another one from dELiA*s. It has a sweetheart neckline, fully-covered back, and ballet-cut legs. It also comes in 8 different patterns and colors. $39.50 retail price.

I don't generally enjoy wearing strapless bathing suits; however, this bathing suit from Newport-News, is too cute not to include, and the skirt is an added bonus. It's on sale for $39 right now!

Here's another strapless suit from Newport-News, and I love it. The black and white color scheme is classy, and it's only $19!

Here's a little number from Unique-Vintage.com. It's a square-neck, skirt/boyshort-cut, swimsuit. It's adorable, and it costs $70.

ModCloth also has a selection of decent, retro-style swimwear. This particular suit comes in red, gold, black, etc. It can also come with polka-dots. This little beauty's gonna cost you $90 bucks, though.

This suit is also from ModCloth.com. It's not one-piece, but it was so cute (and retro) that I had to include it. I probably couldn't pull it off, but I'm sure there's someone out there who could. And that person is going to pay $200 for that privilege. Pricey, and two-piece...I think I'm getting off track.

To finish off any Vintage Swim look, you need a good swim cap--like this white, flowered one from Unique-Vintage.com.

Of course, this is only a limited selection of the one-piece swimwear out there. You just have to look for it.

Oscars 2010

2010-03-09T10:29:00.002-05:00

I don't watch the Oscars; I'm not really interested in them. What I am interested in are the beautiful (and not so beautiful) dresses worn on the Red Carpet. Here are some of my favorites...

Anna Kendrick's look is probably my favorite. This Elie Saab dress is gorgeous, her hair is gorgeous, she is gorgeous. I have no idea who she is or what she is in, but I love her Oscar Night Style.

My second favorite is Sandra Bullock. This dress is beautiful, and so is her hair and make-up. Sandra Bullock is so entertaining. I loved this look on her.

My third favorite is Elizabeth Banks. Again, I'd never heard of her, but I love her ensemble--dress, hair, make-up.

Rachel McAdams also had a gorgeous Elie Saab dress. It's feminine and pretty, and not too prom-ish.

Some looks I didn't altogether admire were Sarah Jessica Parker's yellow sack, Charlize Theron's odd pink ensemble, Diane Kruger's strange swan-like snowman gown, Vera Farmiga's Ruffly Flamenco gown, and Mariah Carey's toot-tight navy fabric scraps.

"Letter to the President" from Ann M. L. Reitz

2010-03-07T23:18:00.002-05:00

Dear Mr. President,

People are the most despicable creatures on this planet—Earth. They kill, they steal, they participate in every crime against humanity and nature. They answer to no one, and take advantage of those in lower positions than their own. Some would say there is a higher entity—namely God—but this idea is the product of weak minds and spirits. There is no one to hold mortals accountable. Humans must make some effort to right the wrong they have bestowed upon this lovely planet.

On a different note, let me ask you a question. Have you ever had a pet that you absolutely adored? Say a hamster, or a Golden Retriever, or perhaps even a goldfish. Even if you’ve never kept the company of one of these delightful specimens, you must realize how innocent and vulnerable they are. They have never cheated, lied, stolen, or maliciously killed. Even the most powerful of lions can be harmed by man’s cruelest weapon—the gun. Except for a few freak accidents caused by humanity’s bumbling ways, animals have invoked

no reason for the senseless violence tormenting them.

Humans must lay down their guns, their knives, their arrows. They must fully submit to the best interest of the worlds’ animals. Cages and zoos must be disposed of. Pets should be liberated from bondage. Animals are so much more loyal than any person ever has been or ever will be, and they should be awarded similar freedoms and benefits. If an animal wishes to vote for the leaders of this country, then they should be allowed. In a way, animals are practically at the level of “god” anyways. Humans should submit to their obvious superiority in morality and intelligence. Animals are so highly developed, that they have cast aside primitive methods of communication as speech, and have taken on the more sophisticated method of telepathy. Because humans cannot understand the complexities of this ability, they often regard animals as “dumb” life forms. Humans must submit to the obvious existence of the animal kingdom’s vast superiority.

In The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams states that the two most intelligent species are mice and dolphin—then humans. Adams realized ahead of his time how intelligent members of the Kingdom Animalia truly are. Why else would he have used such small creatures as the basis to explain true intelligence? He knew. And if Adams realized this many years ago, then who are we to decide differently?

Many animals have been abused and mistreated throughout the centuries. Until now, their rights as living beings have been questioned. Rabbits, cats, and ligers should be able to choose their master, and even whether or not they even have a master. Animals have rights! PETA is an organization working towards the ultimate goal of animal/human equality. The members of PETA simply haven’t realized the full potential of their argument.

As an act to help PETA on their quest, I propose an amendment to the Constitution--an amendment that states something like: “All men and women are created equal with every species of animal—whether large or small, whether violent or gentle. Humans should not consider themselves to be a level above animals, and animals shall be given he right to vote for the leaders of this country. Evolution has caused each and every living being to have the same caches at life.” After all, evolutionists say we’re related to apes, is entirely impossible to think that apes are merely a more highly-evolved form of human? Maybe that is what we have to look forward to in future generations. Can you imagine the honor of being considered an animal? If the amendment I propose is passed, then we are insuring a good future for our descendants.

A snake or a horse should also be able to ensure good futures for their descendants, and how are they to do this except by having access to the only power able to grant life insurance. Animals understand more than humankind gives them credit; animals have the right to vote for our leaders. Animals must be able to vote for the well-being of future generations.

All this said, I guarantee I have not profit to gain from this proposal, I have not been offered money on a bet to write this letter, and I do not stand to gain any acknowledgement or fame for my endeavors. My only profit will be to see those animals in my life get the proper attention they deserve.

Please consider my proposal.

Sincerely,

Anne M. L. Reitz

"Alternative" Olympics. Check?

2010-02-28T13:35:00.005-05:00

Last night, one of my cousins-of-the-same-last-name and I were talking about the Winter Olympics. We decided that they really need to step it up a notch to make them more interesting. We started brainstorming ideas for when we become Olympic event planners.

At one point in the conversation, she mentioned how the Figure Skating portion was like a giant Soap Opera. We later concluded that the skaters should not only skate, but also sing their own music—operatically. The additional endurance needed would create a new breed of Olympic Superstars. This began our “Alternative” Olympics Planning.

Opera-singing-figure-skaters? Check.

The people who do Curling (Curlers? lol) are now going to be replaced (or taught) by professional acrobats. The “curlers” must perform acrobatic stunts while skating around with brooms.

Acrobatic-curlers? Check.

Then we decided that we were going to create an entirely new event where stars from So You Think You Can Dance will team up with the Cirque du Soleil and do their thing while riding the Luge J

Dancing-Cirque-Luge? Check

The snowboarders aren’t giving enough to their sport. We’ve decided that the snowboarders should also be rockstars. While boarding, they will play their electric guitars, drums, and basses.

Rockstar-snowbarders? Check.

Skiing, we decided, is not interesting enough for our new “Alternative” Olympics. Adding tap shoes to their ski boots should prove interesting.

Tap-dancing-skiers? Check.

Our final event of the evening will involve Musical Theatre and Hockey. The hockey players will sing, dance, and act, while chasing the puck back and forth. Current musical possibilities include Legally Blonde and Spiderman.

Broadway-star-hockey? Check

All of these events will come to pass with the judges dressed up in formal Snuggies. Name-tags embroidered in gold will adorn the front and the wearers won’t have to worry about getting cold.

Snuggies? Check.

In addition to entertaining the audience, the “Alternative” Olympics will also solve the rising unemployment rates. These new events will require more training, providing more jobs for dancers, singers, actors, and inventors. In addition to this, everyone will want the new tap-shoe-skis, and drumset-snowbards. The profits made will be donated to feed starving children in Africa.

Job-providing-charity-work? Check.

All-in-all, the “Alternative” Olympics will provide more fun to our dreary hum-drum lives. And seriously, who wouldn’t want to see a figure skater singing opera?

“Alternative” Olympics? Check.

dELiA*s Spring Inventory...

2010-02-12T11:24:00.002-05:00

I'm not much of a name brand girl. I don't do well with Abercrombie, Hollister, American Eagle, etc. They're too expensive, and not really my style. If I had to shop at one store at the mall (for clothes), I would probably pick dELiA*s. While their clothes aren't exactly cheap, they're definitely more my style than any of the other stores' clothing.

This year's Spring collection is pretty decent. dELiA*s dresses are often too short to look good on me; however, this season I really like some of the dresses that they now stock.

I find this dress especially pretty. It's so delicate, feminine, and I really like the lace inset at the neckline.

This one's really pretty too. I love the floral print and the pockets!

In terms of Denim, you can't go wrong with dELiA*s jeans. The Bailey jeans are my absolute favorites. They have some nice washes this Spring. I really like this Boston Wash.

And while I don't usually like acid washes, I find these Bailey Monaco Wash Crops strangely appealing.

dELiA*s also carries a great selection of plaid shirts/casual blouses. I especially love this Gingham Print--it even comes in green!!

I also think this short sleeve blouse is really cute. I love the little floral print. I don't know if you've noticed, but I'm a sucker for ditsy prints, ruffles, and lace...

...I'm also a fan of chambray fabric; it seems so summery to me. I especially like this chambray shirt with it's laid back look, and the rolled cuffs. I can see it paired with some white capris and sunglasses.

Last fall, I bought one of these shirts from dELiA*s; I love it. It's a fall-colors ditsy pattern, though. I really like this striped version for summer/spring.

I really like these Reese shorts too. They have enough length comfort without looking too frumpy. I love how dELiA*s has short shorts along with mid-length and bermudas. I like having choices.

All in all, I really enjoy dELiA*s Spring collection, but alas, I will have to admire it from afar. By the summer, when I'll have money, the Winter collection will probably be out. :)

Jane Eyre Obsession...

2010-02-10T00:26:00.000-05:00

All things "Jane Eyre" are my current obsession. I don't know what it is about Charlotte Bronte's masterpiece that attracts me so much, but I've now read it 3 times, the most recent of which I finished in 2 days. I've seen several movie versions of it, and long to see the Broadway Musical--unfortunately it didn't do well, and it's no longer there. Oh well, I can dream, can't I?

So far, my favorite movie version was the 2006 version with Toby Stephens and Ruth Wilson. It was the most well-made, and followed the plot fairly accurately. I don't mind at all that Toby and Ruth weren't nearly as plain as they were supposed to be. I'm perfectly fine with that :) The entire movie was beautiful.

I received the "Jane Eyre: Musical" soundtrack for my birthday last year. Since then, I've listened to every incredible song over and over again; I've pretty much memorized every lyric. The best songs include "Sirens," "Painting Her Portrait," and "The Finer Things," but I loved every moment of the soundtrack.

For some reason Jane Eyre appeals to me, and I would love for my friends to love it just as me. If it were ever to get the hype of Twilight, I would cry. That would be awful. As it is, I don't think there's any fear of that; that's the wonderful thing about the Classics. I love the complex dialogue, the haunting past of Mr. Rochester, the boundless love of Jane...

Favorite Dance Scenes...entry 1

2009-10-13T14:42:00.006-04:00

I am a dancer, so I especially appreciate dance scenes in movies. These are some of my favorites...

Fiddler on the Roof's Bottle Dance

Fiddler on the Roof's Le Chaim Dance

Oliver!'s Who Will Buy?

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang's Doll in a Music Box

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang's Me Ole Bamboo

Singin' in the Rain's Moses Supposes

Step Up's Final Showcase

These are just some....I'll try and post more later....

A Dream Can Become Reality...

2009-10-11T17:05:00.003-04:00

...of course, it would probably still cost a lot, but it's slightly more attainable than it once was...

...Sorry, I'm not being clear, am I. So, you know how I posted a study Grace Kelly's dress from Rear Window? Well, here's a link to that ancient post....http://decembersgrace.blogspot.com/2009/03/rear-window.html. Anyways, though, I expressed that this particular dress may have originally gotten me interested in Costume Design.
I was browsing the MB Bride website, because they sent me a postcard, and I wanted to check them out. They. Have. A. Clearly. Inspired. By. Rear. Window. Dress.

Penchant for Pink?

2009-10-11T16:18:00.014-04:00

Cruising the Modcloth website (which is an incredible website, by the way), I realized that I continuously was adding the floaty, pale pink lacy dresses to my Kaboodle wishlist. Why are these dresses so appealing? Is it because I'm a ballerina, or is it simply this deep insatiable desire for all things frilly and girly? Maybe it's a symptom left over from my childhood, when all I wore were "princess" dresses. I decided to surf a little more to find more of these pretty, girly dresses...

On the Charlotte Russe website, I found some more. There were also some not listed that I saw in the store....
Then of course, there's my fairy-tale dream dress...the dress I could never have, but quite possible my favorite in existence, this little Elie Saab number...quintessential of the Ballerina Chic dream.

Recent Shopping Trip...

2009-10-02T21:21:00.005-04:00

Well, I got my Driver's License, and to celebrate, I drove to Goodwill. Yes, I know...classy, right? So anyways, I purchased a few choice garments (after trying on like half the store :). These were some of my more interesting (eccentric?) finds.

Here's a floor-length plaid wool skirt (circa 1970's?) It has a matching belt, and yes, it goes down to my toes, and up to my natural waist. It's incredibly swishy, and it would have been perfect for my role in A Christmas Carol last year. Oh well. I've thought about shortening it, but I'm kind of fond of the uniqueness of the length...it's a conundrum.

This great brown 1950's style dress is a nice everyday dress. I wore it last week at school. Perhaps some people thought by dress, heels, and belt were a little too dressy? But who cares. I really enjoyed wearing it. It's a ligh cotton-y material, and it has a minute plaid print. There's a little bit of blue in there if you look reallllly closely. The pink belt doesn't actually go with the dress, I was just trying to show it in a less frumpy light. I love it.

I was particularly proud of this find. It's a jean jacket with a detachable, grey, jersey hood. It fits really well, and the sleeves are even long enough! Wow! I wore it last Sunday with a calf-length black skirt (also purchased on this same shopping trip), and a white t-shirt. White heels, red lipstick, a cool hair-do, and a real rose in my hair completeld the look. Hey, I know I got carried away, I couldn't help it :)

Well, those are my most interesting purcahses. Although I must add that the black skirt mentioned above has pockets! It's amazing! :)

I'm done raving about my money-spending expedition now. Bye!

Literary Works to Read....

2009-09-18T19:08:00.006-04:00

I've been so busy the last moth or two; hence why I have not posted a new blog for a long while. I've decided to skip on the Princess costumes for a little bit, simply because I have a lot of other stuff on my mind. For example, I have this list of literature that I someday want to read, floating around in my head, but whenever I go to a place where books are bought, sold, or borrowed, the list floats right on out of my mind. I've decided, therefore, to record this list on my blog, so that it will remain forever in a tangible place...

1. Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
2. ~~The Scarlet Pimpernel~~ ~~by Baroness Emmuska Orczy~~
3. ~~The Picture of Dorian Grey by Oscar Wilde~~
4. ~~The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne~~
5. War an Peace by Leo Tolstoy
6. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
7. ~~Silas Marner by George Eliot~~
8. Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe
9. ~~The Chosen by Chaim Potok~~
10. Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier
11. Emma by Jane Austen
12. ~~The Importance of Being Earnest~~ ~~by Oscar Wilde~~
13. Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw
14. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
and 15. ~~Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte~~

I Wish I Were a Princess...

2009-06-07T20:25:00.016-04:00

Most little girls dream of being a princess. Wearing a pretty tiara. Finding that Prince Charming. Having everything turn out right. But the most defining aspect of a princess in little girls' eyes are the gorgeous fairy tale gowns that swirl and billow with every step. When a movie has such costumes, it is hard to dislike it completely. This happened when I watched the ABC Family Original movie Princess. The plot is sometimes slow, extremely predictable, and the CGI is okay at best. But it's a TV movie, w hat would you expect? However, there is a defining aspect of Princess--the costumes. Any of the dresses would fulfill any little girl's fantasies; they evoke memories of dress-up games and the classic Disney movies. Because of the intriguing costuming of this little-known drama, I would like to do some costume studies. Here is an overview of the costumes of Princess.

Ball Gown--this is the first gown Princess Ithaca appears in. She is hosting a charity ball, and this dress truly embodies the epitome of a princess.

Garden Gown--Princess Ithaca is wearing this pink dream when William first visits. She is in the garden feeding fawns and watering flowers--typical princess behaviour :)

Park Gown--This bright and cheerful gown is worn on an exploration of New York City. Many stares are received, but Ithaca doesn't care. She and William continue to tour the park, and she contrasts well with the surrounding greenery.

Date Gown--This beautiful gown is worn on Ithaca and Williams first date. It has an ethereal quality to it. I think it's probably my favorite of Ithaca's gowns.

Kitchen Dress--Ithaca wears this dress when in the kitchen. I wasn't sure about it at first, but it grew on me, and it's now one of my favorites. The fabric is gorgeous.

Peach Dinner Date Dress--This dress is worn at the castle when William comes over for dinner. It is much simpler than any of the other dresses that Ithaca has worn thus far, but even in its simplicity, it is remarkably beautiful.

Ithaca's Nightgown--Ithaca's nightgown appears in two scenes, but it is little seen. I thought I'd include it just to be complete. :)

Search Dress and Cape--Ithaca wears this gown and cape when she is scouring NYC for her successor. It's an interesting color combination, and like a lot of the other dresses in Princess, the fabrics are luscious.

Purple Dress--For lack of a better name, this gown has been dubbed the "Purple Dress." Princess Ithaca wears this when she visits William at his place of residence. It's another of my favorites; the eclectic textures involved are fascinating.

Jitterbug's Coronation Dress--This dress is worn by Jitterbug at the end of the movie. It is compeltely different than any of Ithaca's ensembles, but it is a gorgeous dress.

Ithaca's White Shift Dress--This dress is worn by Ithaca at Jitterbug's coronation. It is a polar opposite of Ithaca's other gowns, and to tell you the truth, this dress does not inspire me very much. It's simply a white shift dress.

Ode to Anne...

2009-05-12T14:45:00.003-04:00

Recently, I have renewed my love of all things Anne of Green Gables. I have always been a fan, but our old video is just that, an old video--rendering it difficult to watch Anne very often. It was a much different case throughout my childhood, though. When I was 2, I contracted a bad case of the stomach flu, and instead of sitting around watching Barney and Veggie Tales, I discovered the world of Avonlea. As my mother tells me, I would sit and watch Anne of Green Gables and its sequel on a continuous loop for the entire time I was sick. From a young age, I became acquainted with the beautiful, imaginative world of Anne Shirley. Years passed, and I watched those old videos less and less. The VCR had a terrible reputation for eating tapes, and I didn't want Anne of Green Gables to be destroyed.
One rainy afternoon, though, I decided to take a chance, and re-experience the joys of Prince Edward Island. I was drawn in to the story once more, and though the tape showed signs of wear and tear, I was able to successfully finish it. After watching it, I suddenly realized that I'd never read the book! All my knowledge of Green Gables stemmed from those beloved movies--and while this is not a bad thing, I knew that books sometimes lent their own secrets and unique touches that movies find impossible to convey. I dug through my books, and found that paperback copy of Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery. It was relatively untouched; my mom had picked it up at a book sale for relatively nothing, and I'd never gotten around to actually reading it. However, I was suddenly struck with the urge to know.
I started reading, and I immediately noticed the light, humorous tone L. M. Montgomery writes with. For classic literature, it's refreshingly simple to understand and love. Many quotes were so endearing, I know I had to keep track of them...much underlining ensued. Here are some of those quotes I came to recognize from Chapters 1-3.

Chapter 1:
"...by the time it reached Lynde's Hollow it was a quiet, well-conducted little stream, for not even a brook could run past Rachel Lynde's door without due regard for decency and decorum..."

"Mrs. Rachel Lynde was one of those capable creatures who can manage their own concerns and those of other folks into the bargain."

"...anybody who went out of it or into it had to pass over that hill road and so run the gauntlet of Mrs. Rachel's all-seeing eye." --on the nature of Mrs. Rachel Lynde

"...always slightly distrustful of sunshine, which seemed to her too dancing and irresponsible a thing for a world which was meant to be taken seriously." --on the nature of Marilla Cuthbert

"If Marilla had said that Matthew had gone to Bright River to meet a kangaroo from Australia Mrs. Rachel could not have been more astonished. She was actually stricken dumb for five seconds." --on being told about the Cuthbert's adopting a little boy

"Mrs. Rachel felt that she had received a severe mental jolt. She thought in exclamation points. A boy! Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert of all people adopting a boy! From an orphan asylum! Wel the world was certainly turning upside down! She would be surprised at nothing after this! Nothing!

"This had been done without her advice being asked, and must perforce be disapproved."

"'Well, we're not getting a girl,' said Marilla as if poisoning wells were a purely femenine accomplishment and not to be dreaded in the case of a boy." --Oh, those fateful words...

"...for Matthew and Marilla were grown up when the new house was built--if they ever were children, which is hard to believe when one looks at them."

Chapter 2:
"Matthew dreaded all women except Marilla and Mrs. Rachel; he had an uncomfortable feeling that the mysterious creatures were secretly laughing at him."

"...the unfortunate Matthew was left to do that which was harder for him than bearding a lion in its den--walk up to a girl--a strange girl--an orphan girl--and demand of her why she wasn't a boy."

"I am dreadful thin, ain't I? There isn't a pick on my bones. I do love to imagine I'm nice and plump with dimples in my elbows." --Anne, to Matthew

"I'm so homely nobody will ever want to marry me--unless it might be a foreign missionary. I suppose a foreign missionary mightn't be very particular. But I do hope that someday I shall have a white dress. That is my highest ideal of earthly bliss." --Anne rambling on to Matthew

"Dreams don't often come true, do they? Wouldn't it be nice if they did? But just now I feel pretty nearly perfectly happy. I can't feel exactly perfectly happy because--well, what color would you call this?" --Anne, lamenting her red hair

"But all the time I know i is just plain red, and it breaks my heart. It will be my lifelong sorrow." --Anne being overly dramatic, as she is prone to do. :)

"'Have you ever imagined what it must feel like to be divinely beautiful?'
'Well now, no, I haven't,' confessed Matthew ingenuously.
'I have, often. Which would you rather be if you had the choice--divinely beautiful or dazzingly clever or angelically good?'"

"'...Oh, I don't like that name, either. I shall call it--let me see--the Lake of Shining Waters. Yes, that is the right name for it. I know because of the thrill. When I hit on a name that suits exactly it gives me a thrill. Do things ever give you a thrill?'
Matthew ruminated.
'Well now, yes. It always kind of gives me a thrill to see them ugly white grubs that spade up in the cucumber beds. I hate the look of them.'"

"Do you know, my arm must be black and blue from the elbow up, for I've pinched myself so many times today." --Anne, thinking everything is too good to be true

Chapter 3:
"Oh, this is the most tragical thing that ever happened to me!" --Anne on being told she'll be sent back.

"The child hesitated for a moment. 'Will you please call me Cordelia?' she said eagerly." Anne, when asked her name

"In the other corner was the aforesaid three-cornered table adorned with a fat, red velvet pincushion hard enough to turn the point of the most adventurous pin." --Anne's new room

"'Matthew Cuthbert, you don't mean to say you think we ought to keep her!' Marilla's astonishment could not have been greater if Matthew had expressed a predilection for standing on his head."

And, that's it for today, I hoped you enjoyed them. Does anyone else have any books or movies that you have rediscovered from your childhood? How about some favorite Anne of Green Gables quotes?

The Results of the "Penny" Dress....

2009-04-28T15:18:00.007-04:00

In an earlier post, I blogged about a dress I had obtained for a formal Homeschool dance. This dance has since passed, and I have yet to post about it...until now.
I got tons of compliments on my dress, and despite my crazy hair, I had a great time and shared lots of laughs with my friends. So I know that all of the one or two people that actually read this blog are simply dying to know what I looked like with my peacock-accessorized, penny-colored dress :)
I will oblige....
Yep, that's the dress....here's my hair :)...
....and here's me and Molly!
And that's all there is....there isn't any more. Yeah, there's tons more picures, but that would turn this post much longer than it needs to be :)

Elie Saab? Only in my dreams....

2009-04-21T17:50:00.017-04:00

So, I've never been much interested in runway fashions. They've always seemed very stiff and unrealistic, and just plain weird. However, I've recently come across a designer that I truly like! Elie Saab...he's pretty popular in Hollywood, but I hadn't even heard of his line until I was looking at some of the Oscars dresses. The following are some of my favorites!

I love this one, that color of blue is amazing!
This one is probably my favorite. It's so delicate and feminine. Fairy-like.

I love this one too...the ombre effect is amazing!
This is so sophisticated, and almost casual (but not quite)....the silver color is amazing!
Perfect for a formal Christmas dance! This is so pretty!

There's something different about this one, but I like it...
This is crazy! I love it! haha...
So....that's the consensus :)

Tribute to Ella...

2009-04-16T14:35:00.005-04:00

From Cinderella to Ella

“That fool of a fairy Lucinda did not intend to lay a curse on me. She meant to bestow a gift.” So begins the much-beloved Newbery Honor book, Ella Enchanted. At the moment I read that first phrase, my obsession with the fantasy genre began. With that one amazing book, a new phase of my life started. “Ella” began to emerge from my “Cinderella” shell.

Cinderella is one of those cliché fairy tales that has persisted through time to rest in the current prestigious position of a classic Disney princess story. Many young girls have been influenced by this Cinderella twirling through the television screen in her blue princess dream dress. The pretty dresses and fairy tale ending blind them to the unreality of this hero—the princess that every girl wants to be. However, there comes a time in every girls’ life when she realizes she needs to put off the childish preference to fairy tales, and move on to more “mature” reading material.

After growing past my initial love of fairy tales, I graduated to the worlds of Little House and Nancy Drew. I seemed to respond to the formulaic series that required little thought for comprehension. Though I was “much too old” for princess stories at the ripe old age of nine, my choice reading material reflected my inability to venture and explore new ideas. Picking up Ella Enchanted, I wondered if it would be any good—I was nervous of trying something new, something foreign to my world. I picked it up only because I'd exhausted my supply of other Christmas reading material.

Swaddled up in my loft bed in that cold month, I feasted my eyes on page after page after page. I could not stop reading. I’m sure that I stayed up long past my bedtime that night. On that cold December evening, I entered the world of Frell, where Cinderella had a curse, and Prince Charming had a personality. I entered a land where incompetent fairies and hypnotic ogres roamed. My interests were expanding, and I entered a new era in my life where reading became an obsession instead of a “cool” pastime.

Some might argue that obsession in itself is generally detrimental, but this particular obsession resulted in a broader understanding of literature. And while fantasy might not have the impact on society of—say—a classic, it had an impact on my life. It made me more aware of my imagination and how I could use it to influence other aspects of my daily life. I was inspired to write fantastical stories with what little finesse I possessed. I devoured any other Gail Carson Levine book I could get my hands on. J.K. Rowling, Patricia C. Wrede, Christopher Paolini, and Cornelia Funke soon followed--and sundry other authors.

These stories gave way to a thirst for bettering myself. I began to desire the knowledge that comes with reading classical literature; though, as Mark Twain one said, “A classic is something everybody wants to have read and nobody wants to read.” But, I persisted, suffering through such novels as Oliver Twist, Robinson Crusoe, and Around the World in 80 Days--I had to force myself to wade through these. There were some classics, though that sparked my interest and inspired me to grow in my quest for “Ella.” Pride and Prejudice, Till We Have Faces, and Jane Eyre, are some that I truly enjoyed. As my mind matured, my enjoyment of the classics grew. I began to understand what they were about and why they were written in such a complicated way. I had finally grasped an “Ella” worldview. My eyes were opened to reality, and the paltry plots I engulfed as a child mostly lost their appeal.

Ella Enchanted did not directly inspire me to read the classics, but through a series of circumstances, it helped me to advance my knowledge of literature. It whetted my appetite for betterment; and if nothing else, I gained sympathy for those children that grew up in the days when the classics were being written. (Even though The Hobbit was written for young children, I cannot imagine being an 8-year-old child having to read the novel for the first time. If I were to muddle through, I am positive that I would not have grasped much of anything that J.R.R. Tolkein was trying to put across.)

When I first read Ella Enchanted, I was 9-years-old. Since then, my paperback copy of that award-winning book has been through a lot. I’ve read it over and over again. I’ve lent it to friends, cousins, parents, and siblings. The book is now “frayed” around the edges with dog-eared pages breaking its silhouette. The soft-back cover is now scarred with indentations and miniscule folds. Yet somehow, the pages within are all but pristine, if a little yellowed. The words are all intact, and there are no tears to be found. Food stains and greasy fingers have never touched that beautiful story. It has survived a trip to Mexico and back, and has traveled almost everywhere else I’ve gone. It is a well-loved tome, yet more than just a book. It represents a period of my life—the breach between ‘Cinderella’ and ‘Ella.’

As all fairy tales end, Ella Enchanted closes with familiar words on that last perfect page: “And so, with laughter and love, we lived happily ever after.” This is a beautiful ending to a wonderful story. I always feel slightly sad when I finish a book, but in my opinion, the most satisfactory way to end a book is with “happily ever after.” In life, unfortunately, we don’t necessarily get such a concise view of a story’s end. Stories continue until we are taken home. Merely muddling through life is like reading a classic or any book that does not reflect your present state of being. However, if we have an obsession with joy and peace of mind, we can feel satisfied with whatever we have been allotted in life. Ella Enchanted left me feeling satisfied. I was sad that it was over, but in the end, it was indeed a “happily ever after.”

Pennies and Peacocks?

2009-04-09T09:53:00.012-04:00

There's a monthly homeschool dance next Saturday--but this one's different. This one is "formal." And, like the procrastinator I am, I waited until the week before to even start looking for a dress :) So here I am, running around Pittsburgh, looking for the perfect dress under $50--not an easy task, let me tell you. Vintage shops were my main goal, as I love vintage clothes, and the prices might not be quite so steep (like the $200-300 dresses I see everywhere). I think my mom and I visited like 3 or 4 vintage shops before we finally walked into Goodwill in desparation. I tried on two dresses...one long blue strapless one that I eventually deemed too mainstream, and one dark copper fifties-ish dress that I wasn't too sure about at first. However, it sarted to grow on me as I pranced around the dressing room (I didn't, really :). I decided it was cheap enough ($10) that if I found something I liked better, I'd just stick the penny dress into my works in progress pile. However, as I scoured the Monroeville Mall, I discovered that peacock accessories would perfectly accessorize the dress! I think I'm kinda stuck now, because I sarted buying all this peacock stuff....haha...

Here's the dress...and my peacock accessories....what do you think?

I Still Need...
1. A fantabulous necklace
2. A Belt and/or an awesome Scarf with a turquoise and copper Indian Design.
3. Turquoise or Copper Shoes...preferably heels.

StyleShake.com

2009-03-06T17:07:00.010-05:00

I happened upon an interesting website purely by chance. It's called "StyleShake.com," and it has everything to do with buying custom-designed clothes--no sewing experience needed. You simply access their detailed Clothing Design application and it's that simple.
Now, this application is by no means exhaustive, but it has a better selection of possibilities than some other custom-designed clothing websites I've seen. Style-Shake lets you choose between Organic Silk, Cotton, Linen, and Silk Metallic fabric. There is a wide-selection of colors in each type of material. As far as I know, there is no option for having fabric with a design or print on it, but you may be able to special-order it.
As for other special-ordering, I know for a fact that you can choose the fit and the length of the skirts you choose. These are facets you'll have to specify in the comments box, but it could be worth it. You are able to design Dresses, Skirts, and Tops ranging anywhere from $47 upwards depending on the garment you are designing and the fabric you choose.
Along the edge of this post are some examples of clothes I've designed as a test run. It was kind of fun :)

Rear Window..

2009-03-02T18:15:00.024-05:00

Once upon a time, I watched the Alfred Hitchcock movie "Rear Window." It was an interesting premise to be sure, and was definitely thrilling for a movie made in the 1950's, but the main things that stuck with me are the costumes--specifically Grace Kelly's black and white evening gown from the beginning of the movie. You could almost say this was one of the first movies that sparked a fascination in me for costume design.

The bodice of the dress seems to be of a dark shade of velvet. It's a swooping v-cut neckline, that consists of minute pleats. The little cap sleeves are nearly off the shoulders, and flare just slightly.The back of the bodice is also v-cut, but much lower...to about mid-back. The waist is belted, and the skirt flares out into a frothy white tulle dream. The layers and layers of skirt swish and flow like seafoam, and resemble a ballerina's long tutu.

What makes the dress especially interesting, though is the detail at the waist. Black, embroidered feathers or plant stalks seem to hang from her belt--melding the black of her bodice into the white of her skirt. This decoration seems to be embroidered on the top layer of the skirt, and is rather intricate. She wears a wrap made of the same material as her skirt, and she finishes off the ensemble by accessorizing with a bracelet made of four strands of pearls, and a single strand of pearls around her neck. She wears strappy black heels, and her hair is in a beautiful 1940's or 1950's hairstyle.

As I mentioned before, all of the costumes in "Rear Window" were fascinating, although the cocktail gown was my obvious favorite. A couple of Grace Kelly's other outfits are just as worthy to be posted.

This is Grace Kelly's suit. Because I'm more fascinated with the blouse than the actual suit, I chose a picture that shows the blouse to its full advantage. It is a white blouse, in a style that wraps around her neck. I have a feeling it's something like a halter top, so the top of Grace's back is probably bare; but there could be panels of material. For some reason, this blouse intrigues me.
Her actual suit is of a pale green material, and consists of a skirt and a long suit jacket. The skirt sits at her natural waist, and is clinched with a white belt.
In some pictures, Grace is wearing a small hat typical of the period with a netted veil partially covering her face.
She also seems to be wearing the same jewelry that she was wearing with her Cocktail gown.

This is the dress Grace wears at the climax of the movie. It is more practical than the other dresses she's worn up 'til now. Even with all its practicality, though, it's still amazing. It's a floral printed material with a sleeveless, jewel-type neckline. The dress is gathered at the natural waist, and flares out in a typical 1950's style. As usual, this ensemble is accessorized with long white gloves, and a hat.

In the movie, Grace also wears a particularly pretty nightgown that I haven't really found any pictures of.
Any thoughts, on Grace Kelly's costumes in "Rear Window?"

Pretty Dresses at the Oscars..

2009-02-24T16:32:00.004-05:00

I didn't watch the Oscars...however, I've seen a lot of propaganda concerning this prestigious award show as I've been perusing the internet. Really, the only facet of the Oscars that truly fascinates me is the Red Carpet Fashion. I have a weakness for pretty dresses, and there are often very pretty dresses at the Oscars. I don't necessarily care who's in the pretty dress, but I LOVE, love, LOVE those pretty dresses.

As I've looked over various websites and news stories, I've seen a great many opinions about who were the best and worst dressed that fateful night. While I agree with some of these critic's thoughts, my interests lean more toward unique and feminine to fashion-forward and modern. If some brave actress were to wear an Enchanted-esque ballgown, I'd applaud them, though the critics would bury them in negative comments. Some of the popular favorites included Natalie Portman's elegant, orchid-toned dress; Penelope Cruz's pale, vintage gown; and Anne Hathaway'sdiamond-studded masterpiece. Besides, Penelope's vintage selection, I didn't find any of these dresses visually stimulating. I liked some of the lesser-ranked gowns--in fact, I actually enjoyed more of the younger actresses picks, as opposed to the more experienced drama queens. Miley Cyrus's princess gown had mixed reviews--some thought that the Cinderella aspect of the dress was a good thing, while others thought it was too much. Vanessa Hudgeon's black, mermaid-style frock was pretty, as was Frieda Pinto's blue, Indian-isnpired garb.
That said, I did agree with the critic's thoughts on some of the dresses. I wasn't overly impressed with Jessica Biel's floppy white dress. None of the many red dresses did much for me either. Beyoncé's black and gold dress would have been great for a Steeler game, but I didn't think it was that amazing. I found Angelina Jolie's black gown kind of boring, but her emerald earrings redeemed the look.
There were mixed reviews on Kate Winslet's steel blue dress, but I kind of liked it. It had shiny fabric as well as a panel of lace, and the color was amazing. It was very elegant and flattering; yet, it was incredibly unique for an "elegant" dress. Amy Adam's dress was much criticized, being compared to a "bruised tomato," and something reminiscent of spiderman, but I thought it was kind of cool, in a unique sort of way.
Even so, I didn't particularly hate any of the dresses...I just liked some more than others. As I said a number of times before, I love prety dresses! And because of that, the Oscars are actually interesting. I just don't think an award show awarding people for movies I've barely heard of--let alone seen--is all that interesting. As I said, my personal opinion.
Let's hope next year has some more creatively unique costume statements!

This is me!

2009-02-18T20:54:00.000-05:00

Hey, my name is Charis, and I'm new to this whole blogging thing. I'm a 16 year old girl from Pittsburgh, PA. I don't plan on sticking to one subject with this blog...I hope to cover many of my interests.
There is a reasonable explanation to why I've named my blog "December's Grace." For one reason, it was the first name that came to my head and I was having trouble thinking of anything else. Second, I was born in December, and it is my favorite month. My name--Charis--is the Greek word for "Grace," providing the second part of the title. I am Grace and I was born in December--December's Grace.
My interests include but are not limited to...

Traveling the world...mediterranean Blue...Ella Enchanted....hot chocolate on a cold winter day...fireplaces...warm, fuzzy feelings....painting...Puddleglum...Nana's potato salad...surfing the web...purple...dancing...singing camp songs at the top of my lungs...Lord of the Rings....Newsies...Bible Quizzing...watching musicals...Group 1 Crew...pearls...photography...Heroes...going to theatrical performances...reading in bed...The Scarlet Pimpernel....Burt's Bees...Gilmore Girls...flea markets...summer foods (hamburgers, iced tea, watermelon, etc)...summer vacation...hanging with friends...laughing so hard it hurts...my puppy, well actually, dog!...A Walk to Rememeber...vintage clothing...Gail Carson Levine...Narnia...Superchic[k]...popsicles...Plato's Closet...Lost...Brio Magazine...missions trips...hot tea...drawing...feeling loved...watching movies with my family...The Office...sleeping in until 9 am...

...Well, that's a little bit of me...

-Charis T.