Year-End Retrospective

Although we still have a few weeks left of 2007, I always complete this questionnaire at the end of every year. It's a way to reminisce about my successes, revisit my failures and think about what I want in the upcoming year. It's also fun to look back at last year's and see how I've progressed (or regressed!). Give it a whirl and be honest! It's good introspective fun.

1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
Visited Croatia, London and Venice, was an extra in a movie, went back country snowboarding up by Mt. Baker, completed a triathlon, attended fashion shows, tried authentic French food, tried online dating.

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I think I did actually. I don't know if I'll make any this year...they seem kinda useless.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, my good friends Melody and Jessica both gave birth to a baby boys named Ayden.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, thank god.

5. What countries did you visit?
Canada, Italy, Croatia, England...drove through parts of Slovenia and Bosnia.

6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
A job that pays better and doesn't suck out my soul and a condo that's more than 500 square feet.

7. What date from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Sept. 14th - I was robbed at knife point in Split, Croatia
May 23rd - My grandmother turned 90

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Feeling comfortable in my own skin

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not getting out and singing more.
I didn't quite get all my debt paid off.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
My plane ticket to Croatia.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Melissa....a true friend during a truly traumatic experience.
Melody...raising her son by herself with dignity and grace.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
*Alvin* (his name has been changed to protect the guilty). He started out as a prince charming but turned into a toad.
My boss....where do I begin?

14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent, bills, eating out, my vacation

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
My trip to Croatia.

16. What song(s) will always remind you of 2007?
"The Way I Are" - Timbland
"Umbrella" - Rihanna
"Please Read the Letter" - Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
"My Love For You Is Real" - Ryan Adams
"Sensual Seduction" - Snoop Dogg
"Lavender Hill" - The Real Tuesday Weld
"Slideshow" - Rufus Wainwright

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? happier
ii. thinner or fatter? a bit thinner
iii. richer or poorer? sadly, the same

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Accepted more challenges

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Feeling sorry for myself

20. How did you spend Christmas?
At my mom's house in Montana

22. Did you fall in love in 2007?
Nope

23. How many one-night stands?
Notta one. Not my mode of operation anymore.

24. What was your favorite TV program?
Dancing With the Stars...good cheesy fun.

25. What was the best book you read?
I know I'm a few years late on this one, but Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain. A witty behind-the-scenes look at what really goes on in the restaurant world.

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, The Real Tuesday Weld, Cary Brothers, Anthony Hamilton, LCD Soundsystem, Musique Soulchild, The Bird and the Bee, T. Rex (I know they were hot during the late '60s, early '70s, but I just got into them).

27. What did you want and get?
hmmm..well, the year isn't quite over yet. :-)

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
There were a few...Lars and the Real Girl, Superbad, Knocked Up, Juno, Year of the Dog, 2 Days in Paris

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 34. I went rafting down the Yakima River with my friends. They brought a cake along and we celebrated on a little island in the river. It was perfect...well, except for *Alvin* and his diva behavior.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Owning my own condo.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
Sophisticated and sassy. I discovered local designers, funky t-shirts and I have a new appreciation for hand-made jewelry.

32. What kept you sane?
Good friends

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
TBD

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
Anything religious right related. Extremists make my blood boil.

35. Who did you miss?
My grandma. I wish I could see her smiling face every day.

36. Who were the best new people you met?
Oh boy, I'll have to think about that one. There's so many.

37. What valuable life lesson(s) did you learn in 2007?
To trust my gut and not force something that doesn't feel right.

38. What was your favorite moment of the year?
TBD

39. Where were you when 2007 began and who were you with?
I was up at Mt. Baker with my friends Melissa, Tarah, Kristin and her husband Nate.

40. Where were you when 2007 ended and who were you with?
TBD

41. How many different states did you travel to in 2007?
Oregon, Idaho and Montana

42. How many concerts did you see in 2007?
Probably about 10 - Fiest, Viva Voce, Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter, The Arcade Fire, Bjork, The Long Winters, Jarvis Cocker,Coolio & Naughty By Nature, Rick Springfield, some Duran Duran tribute concert that included a lot of local bands, Paula Cole & Mandy Moore and John Mayer.

43. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
"Some folks get their fill and some folks get to foot the bill"

Check Out This Rack!

The DefMode Midnight Market benefit was a smashing success despite winter's best effort to shut us down. As you can see the snow (and the hooch) caused us to get a little crazy.

It was a blast meeting people from all different areas of the show... the vendors, makeup artists and hairstylists, DJs models, artists and performers. Everything came together wonderfully and Lo-Fi was an awesome space for the event.

And of course our good friends from Liminist will have photographic evidence of our shenanigans up on their site soon, so stay tuned.

Tarah took a few as well. Check 'em out here.

So next time Tim and crew throw a party, we'll be there, and you should too.

Fo Shizzle

I can't stop watching this new Snoop Dogg video "Sensual Seduction." It's hilarious and the tune is pretty catchy. I don't normally dig his stuff, but this one's Solid Gold good. It'd make Rick James proud.

Getting Crafty

This weekend Tarah and I headed to the I Heart Indie Holidays show at the Seattle Center pavilion, where we met many new and designers and artists, plus some old friends. There was so many interesting things, that I'd wished I coulda done all my Christmas shopping then.

Tarah and I both fell in love with Tastie Pasties, fun accountrements for the girls along with frilly undies, satin gloves and feather boas. It's basically everything you need to put on your own little burlesque show.

I got a riot out of Ugly Baby shower accessories. I especially liked the "Floss Bitch" reminder that fastens onto your mirror. Me and my gums need that kind of tough talk.

And of course, our old friends Liminst Photography were there taking free holiday photos, so yes, our mugs will be on their site again. Sorry, it's tradition!

Wanna shop, burn some calories and help a good cause? Put on your dancing shoes, grab some canned goods and head on down to the Def Mode Midnight Market this Saturday for a night of music, dancing and fashion to benefit NW Harvest. The benefit takes place at Lo-Fi Performance Gallery from 9 pm to 2 am. The cover is only $7 with a food donation plus there will be cocktails a-plenty. It should be a fun high-energy holiday event, so come join us!

Rick, Where Did We Go Wrong?

I've had a thing for Rick Springfield since I was in the 5th grade. My sister and I played his Living in Oz cassette until the tape snapped and we'd drool over him on General Hospital. We thought his movie debut performance in Hard To Hold was nothing short of Oscar-worthy. I've seen that movie recently and sadly, they should've called it "Hard to Follow" and the only thing Oscar-worthy in it is his bare ass.

Tarah and my friends Melody and Melissa share the same obsession, so when we heard he was coming to the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, we pounced on tickets.

All of us, except Melissa have seen him before. He really does put on a great show. He interacts with the audience and he's still quite hot for a man in his fifties, so we were really excited when Melody scored 2nd row seats. That excitement soon turned to despair, then downright disappointment. First off, he made all his bigger hits into one medley. Second, his bluesy guitar solos were long-winded and while he is a good guitar player, we were there to hear "Human Touch" "Love Somebody" and "Don't Talk To Strangers." But what chapped my hide most was the Ricker didn't pay any attention to the left-hand side of the audience, where we were. He rarely even looked our way. The right side of the audience got to feel him up and sing along with him. We felt dissed!

So Rick, if you're reading this, please understand that audiences are like a pair of breasts. If you're gonna pay attention to right, you've got to give the left equal time. It's only fair!

PDX, How You've Changed!

As Tarah and Dawn have already reported, we roadtripped down to Portland to check out Portland Fashion Week. I used to live there 10 years ago (my god, has it been that long?) so I was excited to visit my old stomping grounds. Although a lot has remained the same, there were so many new areas to explore, one being the fabulously revamped Pearl District. It's now a hip neighborhood with galleries, cool eateries and chic lofts, but when I lived there, it was street after street of industrial warehouses where junkies came to shoot up. People were just starting to see its potential back in 1997. Walking through it now, with all its manicured streets and boutiques, it's hard to remember what it used to look. And boutiques it does have! There's so many wonderful little independent stores to check out (Dawn and Tarah give the scoop about the ones we visited). Despite all the changes, it warmed my heart to see a mainstay like Powell's Books still going strong in the same location.

Another big difference is that PDX now has a sleek intercity North-South metro as well as the old East-West route. That's one thing I definitely miss about that city - their transportation options. You can get to pretty much anywhere within the city without a car. Seattle, is so behind the curve. Granted Portland is smaller and still has gridlock in areas, it is much smarter when it comes city planning.

I also have to say that Portland's downtown is really quite elegant and quaint full of beautiful fountains and public art. It's got a Vancouver/European feel to it that Seattle just doesn't have. All in all, it was wonderful to go back and remember what an awesome city it truly is.

On a fashion note...The fashion show was full of all types of people, young, old and really really young - like we're talking 11 years old who came with their parents. It took place in the shipyards outside of town, and while not all that convenient, it added to the show's mystique. I was impressed by the fun and fresh collections by Seattle and Portland designers, (to get the compete fashion show rundown, see Tarah's blog). We have a lot of burgeoning talent here in the Northwest, so it was a pleasure to attend the event. One thing I hope the Portland Fashion Week organizers will do next year and perhaps in later shows this week is elevate the runway, so everyone can see these great pieces.

So next time you're in Portland hop on the Max to the Pearl District and NW 23rd and check out some of the local boutiques (we're working on expanding the UBN to include a Portland directory). There's no sales tax and you don't have to pump your own gas!

DIFFA Party Is Da Bomb!

The party at the mansion was blast! In addition to it being a huge success for the UFN, (thank you so much to all the designers who participated as well as our wonderful volunteers), DIFFA raised a lot of money for a good cause. I had never attended this benefit before and I'm so glad I was a part of it.

Seriously people, beg, steal, do what you need to do and get yourself to this party next year. The ticket price may be a bit steep (it's $150 per person) BUT I guarantee you'll have a great time (and you've got a whole year to save for it). If you're still not convinced, here's my top 10 reasons why you should plan to attend:

1. The revenue from the tickets and silent auction goes to several local AIDS organizations, plus you can write it off on your taxes.

2. It's held at the exclusive and beautiful Rainier Club on 4th Ave., a place so swanky most of us wouldn't be able to step foot in there otherwise.

3. Lots of great items to bid on with ranges from $25 earrings to $8500 Tahiti vacations, so there really is something for everyone. There's also raffles for big ticket items like trips to NYC and other vacation spots.

4. Open bar ALL NIGHT LONG...yes, you read that right. You don't pay for a drink the entire evening. There's wine, top shelf liquor, whatever hooch your heart desires.

5. Yummy hors d'oeuvres and a tasty buffet.

6. It's like prom for grown-ups and a chance to get spiffied up and wear that little black dress you bought for last year's work Christmas party or it gives you an excuse to buy a new one. In casual Seattle, we don't have many opportunities to break out those formals and get our hair did.

7. For gay men: lots of half-naked hotties to ogle.

8. For the straight men : The women to men ratio is about 6 to 1, so your chances of hooking up are excellent.

9. For the ladies: lots of half-naked gay and straight men to ogle.

10. Gettin' down on the dance floor. These people know how to party and they get wild toward the end of the night...shirts come off, there's dancing on tables, it's just plain naughty fun! For photographic evidence, click here.

Next up...Portland Fashion Week.

Oh Hell No!

Get a look at the Halloween costume that is making headlines.

Miss Anna Rexia available in ultra thin and busty or plus size.

As if we women don't have enough body issues.

Green Guys Are Hot!

Tarah and I attended the Seattle Green Fashion Week's panel discussion on sustainability and making green choices. It was held in the elegant downstairs of El Gaucho and consisted of several green activists and spokespeople, including the two founders of Method eco-friendly cleaning products.

Both were funny and extremely passionate about the green revolution and their product, but truth be told I had a hard time paying attention because one of them, Adam Lowry, was stunningly beautiful (good god! look at him!). This guy was no frumpy, bespectacled hippie! He was tall, dark and handsome and environmentally friendly. What a guy!

I was smitten and apparently couldn't stop reiterating this to Tarah. After the third time of hearing "Method man is dreamy!" she said "I think someone's drunk!" It's true that I did have a mojito and some pink guava concoction within the span of an hour but I was completely lucid! (Okay, maybe I was a bit tipsy, 'cause who uses the word "dreamy" in this day and age?)

Overall it was a great night, with good food, good drinks and a meaningful discussion about the green movement and fashion's place in it. Oh, and I'll buy Method products now with a renewed appreciation.

Fall Fashion Finds For Under $50

Mossimo black satin trench coat - $39.99 at Target

This picture really doesn't do it justice. It's stylish and has some weight to it, so it'll be warm for winter. Perfect for wearing over your stapless dress to the office Christmas party.


Alice Temperly empire waist thermal knit dress - $24.99 at Target

Cute dress that can be worn alone or layered with a turtleneck or white button-down shirt.



Print wrap dress by Bisou Bisou - $39.99 at JC Penney

You can wear this slinky number to work or out on the town.




Boucle cowlneck sweater - $39 at Victoria's Secret

Sexy and warm!

Bargain Hunting

How much do I love Ross & TJ Maxx? Let me count the ways.

1. You can walk away with 6-10 items for under $100. Tarah and I recently spent three hours in the Northgate Ross. I got some comfy jeans, a cropped suede jacket, a sweater, a couple of long-sleeved shirts and belt for $96.
   
2. Designer names at half the prices. I saw a lot of Ralph Lauren, Baby Phat and Michael Kors pieces at TJ Maxx.
   
3. Soft, 400 count Egyptian cotten sheet sets at reasonable prices.
4. Fluffy towels that don't cost a fortune.
5. Cheap kitchen and housewares.
   
6. Name brand shoes at bargain prices. I saw some sassy Cole Haan pumps for $50, which were originally around $200 and some black patent leather Franco Sarto boots for $40.
   
7. Accessories half off. Found an awesome Anne Klein red patent leather belt for $9.
   

Now shopping at these discount stores isn't for everyone and I have to be in just the right mood to even walk into to Ross or TJ Maxx. First, there's usually lots of people there on the weekends, so the dressing rooms will be full and everything picked over. I recommend going there during the week sometime, like Thursdays, when they're getting in new stuff for the weekend.

Second, you have to be prepared to wade through a lot of crap to find a gem and sometimes even the good pieces are marred by a lipstick stain on the collar or a hole in the armpit. But if you're handy with a sewing machine or think you can get that stain out, it may be worth asking for an extra 20% off.

So if you're willing to put in the time and effort, bargain hunting at stores like TJ Maxx and Ross can be fun and rewarding.

Share with us your favorite bargain stores.

Buongiorno!

No, my friends, I am not dead, just trying to get back into a routine after two relaxing and eventful weeks in Croatia and Italy. In the spirit of Seattle Fashion Week, I've decided to highlight some fashion highs and lows from my trip.

Highs
Italian men! Not only are they incredibly hot and polite to boot, but they have fashion sense that isn't found anywhere in the States besides the gay community. They take pride in their appearance and wore nice denim, polished leather loafers or sporty athletic kicks, tailored shirts and sports coats. They all had nice haircuts and chic sunglasses as well. Even the street vendors were stylishly dressed.

Lows
Italian women - Very thin, sexy and fashionable, even the moms. Bitches! (Although I did see one store clerk in Venice with visible muffin top.)

Sloppy Americans - It became a game with my pal Melissa and me to play "Spot the American" because you could easily pick them out in a crowd. They were the ones wearing muu muus and carpenter shorts and Teevas (the most egregious thing I saw though was one man wearing shorts with a catheter bag strapped to his leg. That's a fashion NO, NO and NO!!) To be fair though, the English and German peeps were pretty slovenly too.

Red, red hair. The Croatian women for some reason love Ronald McDonald-colored hair. It reminded me of when I used to dye my hair with Kool-Aid back in junior high.

Rhinestones and glitter galore! Everything from T-shirts to shoes had some sort of faux jewel, metallic or glitter on it. And not in a good way. We saw one woman wearing some jeans with a gold metallic overlay, a glittery zebra-striped top and gold pumps in the bright light of day. Her Solid Gold outfit almost seared my corneas.

Overweight men in Speedos. Women in ill-fitting thongs. 'Nuff said.


General Observations
Italian men are very polite and will offer to help carry your bags up stairs. Croatian men will stand by and watch you struggle.

Public nosepicking - There wasn't even any discreetness about it. Most offenders were men and had no qualms about digging in wherever, whenever, no matter who was watching.

Public flatulence - Melissa and I were victims of walk-by farting quite a few times. We began to wonder if we had a sign on our foreheads that said "Please, come toot near us." One man at a bus station let one rip by us, then looked out of the corner of his eye and sneered as if to say "Yep, that one was for you!"

Italians are penis proud. There were many things on display that celebrated the peen from shorts and aprons to these horny pig figurines.

The Perils of Packing

I'm leaving for the lovely Adriatic seaside in a week and I'm feeling that requisite pre-trip stress because there's so much to do. Clean my apartment, find someone to look after my cat (Tarah? :-) pre-pay all my bills...the list goes on. But what I hate the most is deciding what to pack. I usually end up not deciding at all and packing too much of everything from toiletries to clothing. I need to avoid that this time around since I'll be hulking my pack everywhere (there's no wheels on this baby!). Thus, the packing predicament begins.

First off, there's always the weather issue, which entails a coat conundrum. Which cute little jacket should I bring for sunny and warm weather? And a chance of foul weather means bringing a raincoat and possibly some standard Seattle fleece, two types of clothing that don't really make a woman feel her most attractive.

Then there's the shorts, shirts, pants and skirts dilemma. How many do I bring? And theymust mix and match. Do I pack that cute sundress even though it is cotton and prone to wrinkling? Do I just go buy a new one made out of a polyester blend? I'm already overwhelmed just thinking about it. I have to keep reminding myself that I'm not going there to impress people with my threads, but to experience a new culture and most of all relax. But I want to look good while I get my R& R!

It's the shoe decision that perplexes me the most. Rick Steves, the local travel guru, says you should bring just two pairs, a comfy walking shoe and a closed-toe shoe for more formal occasions. That's it? What if I want to hit a club? This petite girl needs her heels! So the search begins for a comfy shoe I can walk for miles in that can also be paired with a sassy sundress. Does such a wedge exist? I'll find out this weekend!

Why So High?

What is with all the high-waisted pants showing up in stores lately? First we curvy women had to deal with the skinny jean phenomenon that only looked good on thin gals and now this? Why are designers moving to the other end of the spectrum? Is there some conspiracy to make the average woman look as unflattering as possible, 'cause no one looks good with her pants perched right beneath her breasts.

Even Jessica Simpson, a woman with one of the best bodies in Hollywood, can't pull off this look. It doesn't flatter thin and lanky body types either. (Take a peek at Mischa Barton and you'll see what I mean.) And is it just me, or does something about the high waist create such a crease around the crotch that it gives the appearance of camel toe? No thank you!

Ladies, we need to kick this trend to the curb. Just say no to the high waist because it will only lead to designers trying to cram us into some other fad that's just as ridiculous like, say, stirrup pants or the asymetrical foldover button-down flap that was so popular in the late '80s. (Don't laugh! Did leggings not make a recent return? And I actually saw a girl walking across the street in an acid wash mini skirt the other day.) Some fashion styles should be left in the past, and in my opinion, high-waisted pants are one of them.

Libertine Line at Target

Target's new limited-edition line, Libertine, is a funky mix of classic items with a trendy twist. The collection is part of the innovative GO™ program which aims to bring reasonably priced fashion created by world-renowned designers to women everywhere. Every three months a new designer is chosen, so if you like what you see, get thee to a Target ASAP, 'cause these items will only be available through September 15th.

Sundresses on sale!

There's only one month left of summer which in itself is so depressing, but I have found a bright side to the shorter days. Walk into any store or boutique and you'll find a sea of sundresses clogging up the sales racks. So stock up for next year, because a fun, flirty dress never goes out of style.