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Monthly archive May, 2011

life*style

shopaholic

by oisercage on May 31, 2011 • 6 Comments

The drawing above is my idea of a Shopaholic.

I have been doing a little shopping lately in anticipation of Summer and I’d like to share a few useful tips.

First, I’d say whatever you are looking at buying is not worth it. “It” being the price tag on the item. That’s the cost. Maybe it’s what it’s worth to the vendor but, what’s it’s worth to you is a different matter and, frankly, the only important matter. I went to see the new Woody Allen movie this weekend in which one rich, supercilious character kept saying “cheap is cheap” whenever someone talked of buying something she considered sub-par – a judgement based on price tags. But, I think something is worth is what you’re willing and able to pay to acquire it. So, do not let any clerk or boutique owner make you feel bad for thinking their item is too expensive. Stay on budget, no exceptions.

Check the website first. Save time by picking out what you like from the online Look Book. Then you can pick up what came for and head to the fitting room. The fitting room is where it all happens!

Buy only what you love. NOT like. If you can’t decide if you love it, you probably don’t. When you are having a positive reaction to something you get an immediate, fervent outburst. Your love will not manifest itself after you’ve brought it home and find that yes, it is still uncomfortable to sit in. Which brings me to the next rule.

Buy only what you can dance in. This rule is especially true for shoes. If I cannot do a little trot in them, I do not buy them. I walk about 40 mns every day so I need shoes that can take the pavement and look fierce doing it. Some skirts and dresses are only for specific occasions. I almost bought this skirt – which a slimmer lady than me has styled neatly here. But then, I realized that it was too flat to accomodate my contours.

Use the scientific method. Guess. Test. Verify. Even if you think it’ll fit, try it on. Then take a walk. Maybe do a twirl or a knee-drop & jazz hands. Whatever helps you make a clear decision. Fleet Feet, a local sportswear store in Washington DC, lets prospective buyer take a quick run around the block to test the sneakers before they buy them. What says “I want the customer to be happy with the product” more than that?!

Wishes to the Apparel Store Fairy

I wish that all apparel had an electronic key inside theft-alert plastic knob. That key should be synched to the online inventory for the entire company. And, each store should keep a computer open for customers to look up their inventory as so many book shops do nowadays. If your size has run out, you could look it up and see if another store has it. This would save the cashier time as they would not have to phone another store to find out for you. It’s a nice service but I bet it’s frustrating for the six other people standing in the queue behind me.
I would also recommend that apparel stores use a standardized sizing ruler. If customer appreciation is the true aim, let a 5 be a 5 everywhere.

Updated with drawing at 1030 pm EST.

best in show

messy mondays

by oisercage on May 30, 2011 • No Comments

This week’s Messy Monday article is straight from my own chambers. I have been in packing/planning mode so everything is strewn about for the moment while I do a combination of Spring Cleaning, bringing out Summer clothes, and packing for my Eurotrip. While I was not cleaning last week, I have been working nights on the news desk (pictured below), reading and plotting my book.

I like the idea that education is a life-long pursuit, that it does not have to end with University. In fact it does not even have to begin with University studies. Reading your school-endorsed book list is the ordained thing to do. But, after you are through with the syllabus it’s a good idea to keep reading, to read for your life.

I have never let my schooling interfere with my education. – Mark Twain

I am picky about cleanliness though not neatness. So everything is more or less clean. I say more or less because of the Whole Foods Shopping bag full of clothes that I have been meaning to sell or donate may not be clean anymore. It has been there since last year so perhaps it is now full of dust. I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it, that is next year when I finally finally clean them up and take them to store. Maybe sooner – It depends how creative I get :)

That mirror is a million years old. It has faded but I can’t bring myself to throw it out. There is a teddy bear buried in one of the piles. Can you spot it?

This post is part of a series to feature Beautiful Messes, to encourage everyone to get busy creating and living. Life is all about making stuff. About doing, not organizing. You can always organize later when you’re tired. It does not take that much brain power to stack things up. But, it will take your whole brain, your sinew and your heart to make something worthwhile.

If I do anything interesting, creative, out of the box, if I follow my instincts and forge every idea into something concrete, if I do anything worthwhile, I will always be making a mess.

I am starting starting a collection of Beautiful Messes. Send me your mess. A picture with a line telling us what worthwhile thing you made/did while you were too busy to clean! OR if your mess cannot be photographed send me 100 words about it and I’ll post that. We will make a collage of Beautiful Messes. I will post the batch every Monday on the blog and on the Facebook Page so that you can inspire everyone else to get messy the rest of the week.

Your mess can be a work in progress, something you just started or something you’ve destroyed because…well, you made it and then you knew you could do better so you’re starting over. All good places to start. Come on over! oisercage {@} gmail {.}com.

You can see Kerry from This Tinder Blog and her mess featured last week. Or my first Mess and details about the inspiration behind this project.

life*style

gypsy prints

by oisercage on May 30, 2011 • 3 Comments

Because this skirt reminds me of the hungry drama of Flamenco, a Spanish dance style for which the Roma people (in Southern Spain) are famous. I feel like the steretypical Gypsy today. Peripatetic and disorganized. Getting to one place while dreaming of another while forgetting what I just did the last hour. This may also be called tiredness.

My brain is just a frenzy of thoughts zigzagging every way. I have a “to-do” list a mile long but I also want to just do nothing because it’s Memorial Day after all. I should be eating hot dogs or lamb on a pit, if I were Greek. But I’m not. And I’m not eating hotdogs either. I’m running back and forth between editing machines. At least until closing time and then I’m gonna dance like a Gypsy.

For my MotherLovin’ Rule Breakers:

Multicolored Stripes + Gypsy Prints (This kind of funky design is hereby dubbed Gypsy print). I think the white space balances out the stripes and the Gypsy print. What do you say?

Details: Shirt >>> Thrifted NY. Shirt /Belt>>> Zara. Shoes >>> Mizz Mooz. Earrings >>> Boutique in San Francisco. Tree of Life Necklace >>> via Amazon. Energy >>> Frenzy.

books / life*style

bruschetta or the taste of old friends

by oisercage on May 27, 2011 • No Comments

Good Gourmande Day Everyone!

I still remember my first taste of bruschetta. We were 54 students interested in expanding our cultural horizons because we all went to a good college that pushed the liberal arts and an international mind-set. We had come to Rome to marvel at the School of Athens, to stand in awe of the Romans’ mighty Colosseum that stands like a grand old Dame, like a Catherine Deneuve, more confident in her prowess than any of the sturdier newer buildings that line the avenue. We had come to discuss the implications of Machievelli. We listened to lectures on Roman columns, on Michelangelo’s robust style that featured Herculean women – busty and muscled like gladiators. All of these things were of interest to us. Honestly. But no one was disappointed when our infectiously enthusiastic professor Francisco Gómez Santiago, who, like most Spaniards, introduced himself informally as Paco, called time out. Our feet were worn out from museum and church touring marathons and we were dying to eat. Italian food!

Bruschetta will always remind me of that time in Italy and by association of my old roommate and friend. After studying in Italy for a semester, she was enthralled with Italians, gelato, and bruschetta. The first time she made bruschetta at home she delivered a rhapsody about the dish and its phonetic. Henceforth, let the Anglo-Saxon world know that this dish is called BROOS- K -TA.

Last week I had the pleasure of sitting over bruschetta with two friends. One of them is a new friend. We’ve only met twice thus far. But it was a lovely meal. Lots of free-flowing laughter and lip-smacking. I think Nigella Lawson was right when she said that food is one of the best ways to get to know people. You can lie about many things but not about what you find delicious.

Bon Appetit!

If you’re making bruschetta at home, I recommend cutting the bread in slices no thicker than your hand. Otherwise the toppings tend to fall off and spill everywhere.

Fresh cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, onions. Cheese of your choice {I like Pecorino and Goat Cheeses}

Fry chopped up peppers and onion in shallow pool of olive oil. Season with spices. I like basil or thyme, dry parsley leaves, salt, pepper.
Cut width-wise for slices about as wide and thick as your hand. Then toast each slice on a greased frying pan until golden on both sides.
Cut cheese and tomatoes and toss in with peppers and onions. Serve on warm toast.