New York Fashion Week -- Stuffed

I'm stuffed. Literally. My nose is stuffy and I've got a slight fever. HOWEVER, that will not stop me from enjoying New York Fashion Week. Why does this always happen to me? I swear, for the past couple seasons, I have been a little under the weather. In addition, I've got a lot on my plate (as always) and am engulfing one too many activities. College, you are getting in the way of things I deem important-HA.

One place I can definitely be spotted at this week is Chictopia10. If you're there, say hi! I will be with a few of my faves: Christina, Jessica and Noel.

Happy Holiday fellow fashionistas!

xo
D

Shoe of The Month: Brookfield by Bass

Brookfield by Bass
$65 on Zappos.com

School's here and that means time for new footwear! I love to shop (duh!). My favorite time to shop is in August when it's almost time to head back to school. Growing up, a new school year was the biggest excuse for me to force my parents to take me shoe shopping. I always had to have the "coolest" kicks when heading back to school.

This school year, and from this point on, I'm taking a more classic approach to my style. I'm a Park Avenue Princess at heart (think: Charlotte York from SATC). I dream of the day I will be living it up in a posh New York City apartment and donning nothing but tailored shift and A-line dresses.

Anyway, I am beginning to clean out my shoe closet--getting rid of all my cheaply made shoes. I'm a bit of a shoe snob if you haven't noticed and for the past three months I have been making the conscious decision to only purchase shoes that are rich in material. I'm also a sucker for leather. Sorry PETA. I enjoy wearing cow on my feet.

I grew up wearing leather. Daddy always brought back the finest leather goods (and chocolate) from his business trips to Switzerland and mommy has a closet filled with genuine leather bags from her days as a fish-out-of-water college student in France. So this why leather loafers, specifically Brookfield from Bass, is my Shoe of The Month.

A leather loafer can go with any outfit. It's one piece of footwear that can be worn with a causal or dressed up look. And since now Bass is coming out with different looks for their loafers, there's no excuse to not purchase one. You'll find one that fits your style and personality!

xo
D

Hello, Senior Year!

Books required for last semester. Less than half the amount of books I now need.

275 dollars. I just spent about $275 on schoolbooks. Most of the textbooks required for the six classes I'm taking this semester are scholarly hardcovers and paperback novels, meaning a grand total of 13 books needed for the entire semester. Six of those books are from my French Literature class (WHY?!). I guess this is the price I pay for being a Liberal Arts student.

My first day of classes, September 1st, was off to a rocky start because I had an unset schedule. Two days before, I got an email from my professor that sent me into a whirlwind of madness. I had JUST finished my two week Resident Assistant training (read: exhausted & sleep deprived) and was livid at what I read. I don't like to expose emails I receive, but, please read the email I received below with my edits:

Hi folks: ... I want to let you know that our room has changed from [a convenient location to the boondocks]. We are also meeting only once per week, on Wednesday [for 3-hours]. I changed the schedule and room for this course last June, but due to [the school's lack of ability to communicate], the changes were never posted.

My reaction: @#$%! - What am I going to do? This class fulfilled credits for the School of Liberal Arts and my crap-shoot of a minor. And because I intern twice a week, I have all my classes set for Mondays and Wednesdays back-to-back. Therefore, a class with a 3-hour block is close to almost impossible for me to take.

The days leading up to September 1st were probably the most stressful time in college I've had, yet. I AM graduating in May and need to make sure I fulfill my requirements. Classes for my minor run slim to none, so I wanted to bang out as many classes for it as possible.

Another pebble that was thrown my way on the first day of classes was the fact that the professor for my History of China & Japan class is slightly crazy and unclear. As the class was looking over the syllabus individually, the first thing she said was,

"I don't really check my email, so that is probably not the best way to get in-touch with me. Also, if you want to reach me by phone, you need to call the department and they will forward you to my office phone. If I am not there, leave a message and I will try to get back to you. Oh yeah. I'm leaving for China tonight and will be out of the country next week, so you won't be able to reach me for an entire week."

WHAT. THE. @#$%. I walked right out of class, went to the nearest computer on campus, dropped that course like an atomic bomb and picked up a French Literature class.

Needless to say, I'm very excited for senior year! I really can't believe this time has come. Nine months until graduation and after that, world domination!

xo
D

Sorry, I Have RA Training. Watch Arthur In The Meantime.

Old staff members at my first RA Training dressed like gifts; August 2008

Dear my lovely readers, all 2 of you.

From now until September 1st, being a Resident Assistant will take over my life. I'm in the middle of closing a summer building and opening a building for the school year. Too many new things to learn about being an RA and new bonds to be built with new and old staff members. Please excuse me as I take a week long hiatus to muddy my mind with student affairs.

If you feel like your life is not complete without my blogging, I encourage you to start watching some old episodes of Arthur! Respect the Aardvark.

Source: Youtube

xo
D

Shoes As A Decoration

So I ran into a bit of a dilemma back in May. I purchased a pair of red suede "platform" stiletto mary janes from aldoshoes.com. Platform is in quotation marks because Aldo Shoes described them as having a platform but clearly, the shoe DOES NOT have one, which was very deceiving to me when I purchased it online.

Anyway, I snagged these shoes on a whim. I had been eying them on the site for some time and decided to make the buy once I had the dough. When they arrived, I admittedly wore them (making unpleasant faces) as I pranced or uh, hobbled around the room. The heels were too high and the platform was NONEXISTENT! How was a diva like me supposed to look uh-mazing in her heels if she can't walk two feet without screaming bloody murder for a foot doctor?!

I kept the shoes because I thought they needed to be broken in. BOY was I wrong. I wore them to an event, which forced me to walk at a .002 miles per hour pace (I could feel the veins in my feet popping as I walked), kick them off mid-evening and walk barefoot for the rest of the night because the pain was unbearable.

Too late to return, I decided to keep the shoes as a room decoration. I couldn't find it in my heart to give them away or sell them because the heels came in my favorite color (red), and look like the ultimate heel. Needless to say, the shoes currently sit on top of my television adding character to my dorm room.

Has this ever happened to you? Purchased a shoe and it just didn't work out? Tell me!!

xo
D

I Chopped My Hair Off!

I did it. I chopped my hair off! I thought I would feel like the weight of the world was lifted off my shoulders, but instead it was just my hair. Read why I cut it in a previous blog post. I still can't believe I did it. I've been growing out my hair out forever and always wanted long luscious locks, but I needed a change.

Needless to say, I snapped some pics while at the salon. Check them out below!

Relax


Cut


Result

What do you think?

xo
D

Why is PlentyOfFish.com in Music Videos?!

Lady Gaga - Telephone ft. Beyoncé
Skip to: 4:26
Source: YouTube


Natasha Bedingfield - Touch
Skip to: 0:27
Source: Youtube


Jason Derulo - Ridin' Solo
Skip to: 1:56
Source: YouTube


Someone enlighten me.

xo
D

Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad!

Today is the wedding anniversary of my mom and dad. They met when they were 16 years old and got married 11 years later in 1978. Why did it take so long to get married? Well, they both went off to college  in different countries, getting their master degrees as they kept in touch via snail mail. My dad always says that when he first met my mom, he ran back to his home and told his mother that mama D would be the woman he would marry and well, lookie now! They've had their ups and downs, but ultimately they love each other. My friends, true love does exist.

xo
D

Toning Sneakers Must Be Stopped!

The first time I saw a commercial for the Skechers Shape-Ups, my shoe snob self cringed in horror. I imagined people being blinded by the allure of "exercise while you go about your busy day" notion and slipping on a pair of the unattractive, unnecessary shoes. And when Reebok took the route of get-a-great-butt-like-our-professionally-hired-actress/model, I knew that this new footwear phenomenon was taking a bad turn.

I watched a friend of mine purchase one of these shoes with the idea that she would have a great butt by the time summer rolled around. She wore them almost everyday and everywhere, even if the shoes were not befitting to the occasion (like to the bar!). And well, what do you think happened to her butt? Nothing. It stayed the same and I was not surprised.

I can't help but think that the creation of toning sneakers was to bring sales to Skechers and other brands. Think about it. When was the last time you purchased a pair of Skechers? 2003? Yeah. There's nothing wrong with Skechers. In fact, their shoes are actually really comfortable. It's just that Skechers aren't "cool" anymore. Not even amongst kids. Here's how I know; I was watching an episode of iCarly with one of the kids I babysit and her friend. They are both 8 years old. A commercial for one of the Skechers shoes came on and both girls screamed at the TV and said, "I hate this commercial! Skechers are so stupid and ugly!" I was shocked. I honestly thought kids loved Skechers because I did as a little D. All I wanted was a pair of Skechers to "fit-in" and "be cool." I found this VERY interesting because it proved what I already thought. Skechers are losing their "coolness."

Refinery29 tried to help Skechers regain their "coolness" by finding ways to make Shape-Ups stylish. It was a really nice effort, but ultimately, these shoes aren't fashionable what-so-ever.

Ultimately to me, these shoes symbolize laziness and are just another product aiding lazyamerica. Did the U.S. really fall so far off the deep end on the healthy spectrum that multiple companies felt the need to create a shoe that would "turn your world into a workout without ever going to the gym?" I think it's time we wake up and realize that there is no other way to workout and shape-up than hitting the gym and eating right. And now that a study was done that proved toning sneakers fail to deliver fitness claims, I REALLY hope you toss those shoes and pick up a pair of running sneakers and make a trip to your local gym.

xo
D

Source: Skechers

This Month's Inspiration: I Love You Always Forever by Donna Lewis

Source: Youtube

If I decide to forgo grad school, my last first day of school begins in less than a month. I really can't believe it. My first day of college feels like yesterday. Literally.

Anyway, I chose I Love You Always Forever by Donna Lewis as this month's inspiration because I've heard it more than once this month while I was doing my weekly grocery run and the song instantly brought me back to my elementary school years. I tried my best to not breakout in a dance number in the middle of the dairy isle, but I'm sure someone in the store saw me breaking it down as I sang along.

I also love the neutrals Ms. Lewis is rocking in her music video.

I love you always forever Class of 2011.

xo
D