Hey, Mr. Postman

My onslaught of magazines have started to arrive and I couldn't be more excited.

I came home last week to;

How sweet they sent me the December

This cover is perfect.

It reminds me of Honey West re-vamped for 2011

and I think Lily Donaldson looks beautiful here.

Getting a magazine in the mail reminds me the days of being 14 and receiving my "Teen" magazine in the mail. I still remember those colors, those covers, and that block font like I pulled it from the mailbox last week. Through some rough google searching, I was able to find this gnarly little fucker;

YES!

I think this was the first issue I actually got in the mail?

It's cut up, taped on some 6th grade notebook or binder, and long gone by now.

But it's nice to re-live the good old days!

Seeing all those old magazines via google is especially odd. When I got those magazines, we just were getting internet rolling in our house. The old ads, those silly quizzes where I feverishly circled A, B, C, or D, and those covers that were covered with tacky yet catchy little phrases that kept me reading about whatever the hell my little mind wanted to wrap itself around, oh man.

So, my goal for dealing with all these magazines that are about to bombard me (Vogue, W, Nylon, Bazaar, V, Pop, & Vanity Fair) is to read them in order. So December W was first on board. I found my new shoe adoration among these pages and I am so excited about them even though I most likely will never own a pair. After that statement, I feel like I should note that I am not a shoe person--shoe person as in "crazy obsessed girl has to have every pair she sees". The first sentence of the article was "Remember jellies?" Cue to me grabbing the magazine with both hands and holding it up in honor. OF COURSE I REMEMBER. I've only been mentioning them in random conversations for the past 10 years. Kartell, yes, the contemporary plastic furniture powerhouse teamed up with Moschino, specifically Rosella Jardini their creative director and out came this beauty of a flat;

kartell.com // moschino.com

Ah, the time has come;

Bottega Veneta came out with a watch, the BVX, by creative designer Tomas Maier

You can watch the vid about the creation HERE.

now go get your $14,600 and buy it :D

The "What" pages in this magazine are tuning in so nicely to my interests.

21 drops.

this seems interesting.

For 28 bucks you can snag yourself an aromatherapy blend that are created to cure various ailments/moods/feelings. I'd be interested to see how effective they are.

Don't worry, if they don't make the aroma for your therapy, you can get your own for $415. Jesus.

ugh. As winter continues to carry on, I still find myself in the same jean-hating phase I dove into over a year ago. I just find denim deplorable and I don't see an end in sight. Any asshole can wear jeans, but its about more than that. Sometimes I will accept jeans on my body, but I am just never pleased. Nobody is praising your outfit when denim coats your legs. I find myself in them today and I just feel--extremely boring.

On another note, something to perhaps get you on your feet. My cousin the other day introduced me to this music called "dub step" and it's pretty groovy in the weirdest way. When he described it initially, he said that the music "wobbles" and it does. This song was the first song he played for me and it has been in my head ever sense. Move a little furniture or find some open space and move around a little bit to THIS--especially if you want to honour Jack Lalanne just a tad more (such a sad passing)

Hopefully you're settled into the week. Make it a good one.

-Tessa

Balloons that fell from above.

Finally back in the game. After lazing around the week before New Years and technically the week after, I feel back in the swing of things (especially with finally being back at work in Naperville). New years was fantastic this year. Eric and I checked into the Hotel Monaco on Friday equipped with bottles of champagne to ring it all in. The Black Keys were in town for a few nights and we checked them out on the Eve (see setlist). It was nice to be out and about among people, but the crowds typically tend to suck at these kind of events, especially with my height. I just get lost in seas of shoulders, but being short has its advantages. You can watch them performing 'Everlasting Light' HERE which was just before midnight and then you can see the celebration/balloon drop HERE.

:: Veuve :: The Black Keys on New Years ::

2011 has gotten off to a really great start ::ferociously knocking on wood::. I've already had such awesome encounters with such great people and I hope that continues to be the case. I always seem to find myself among good company. I just find myself feeling very secure in this new year. It's all really in my own hands. I'm enjoying time spent in the Orland Park store. It's nice to be working on my own and "run the shoppe" at my pace. It's a completely different environment than Naperville and I enjoy both, but in different ways.

I am still dying to see Black Swan (and The Virgin Suicides, damnit). I have a feeling it will be my new obsession, but I also think it will hit me really hard. I snagged the January Vogue (and then it came to my house days later... [Laura- I am planning on giving you my spare issue!]) and I did a little reunion jig because of the beloved 2004 issue featuring Natalie Portman that featured wonderful Escada dresses and an exquisite gown by Oscar de la Renta and of course a beautiful story about Natalie Portman. I was a Sophomore in High School.

2004

2011

Now I'm nearing the end of 22 and, of course, I skipped everything else and read the story; I would have loved the opportunity to train like she did for that role.

"The dance training for Black Swan started a year before the film, with two hours a day. Six months later we ramped it up to five hours a day, and the last two months it was eight hours a day, because we added choreography and cross training, so I was also swimming a mile a day. The discipline was good for the part—it hurt a lot; your body is in constant pain.” Like most dancers, she survived on coffee and ibuprofen, and slept five hours a night."

While she had to endure endless amounts of pain, I would love the ability to be able to train extensively while getting paid to do it instead of dishing out cash for coaching, which is a huge reason why I hardly skate anymore. I wish they were filming something about skating and "needed" me to skate 6 hours a day while undergoing coaching and advanced training. It would be like re-living my youth all over again.

I need to find an empty studio ASAP. I need a little studio time with this song for sure. I have undying urge to create a routine for this song. CHECK THEM OUT! I have really been diggin' The Jezabels this year and I'm definitely excited for them to start touring around.

GAH! Why must the NFC be aired over FOX? It's disappointing flipping from CBS where the high picture quality is impeccable. I miss football season already, although technically it's still upon us. I've devoted my Sundays to them for weeks, but it's nice to see how it will all come together after a pretty good season for the Bears, although I'm not expecting miracles. I expect to see the Patriots in the Superbowl this year, they've had an astonishing season, but that's nothing new for them.

So what goes better with COSMIC LOVE than COSMIC BROWNIES?!?

I woke up craving these for some reason today. I haven't had these since I was, like...15? They were a big motivator in me going to Jewel this morning. It was a great little reunion when I ripped open the package and scarfed the little two chocolate squares down with reckless abandon. Don't worry, I waited till I got home to do this. Some good times for sure.

No go buy some Cosmic brownies and listen to Cosmic Love.

**For cat lovers; sing "The Dog Days Are Over" to your feline friend.
(this version of the song makes me cry every time, heh)

Toby is aiming to learn more in the New Year as well!

-Tessa

He who creates the clothes....

annnddd scene.

Finally. Christmas is over. You know, I actually feel bad writing that. I love Christmas. I look forward to it for months. I long for that "Holiday spirit" that revs up right after Halloween (although, I miss many aspects of early fall by the time Thanksgiving hits). Unfortunately so much goes along with Christmas that make it extremely irritable and exhausting. In the end, it is always worth it, but it's hard telling yourself that along the way.

I got some great gifts this year. People were so generous. Eric got me subscriptions to W, V, Nylon, Bazaar, Vanity Fair, and Pop as one of my gifts. That should keep me busy for months to come. I am so amped for all of them to start coming in the mail, I will be feverishly reading about fashion aimed at all different targets. Unfortunately Pop only delivers twice a year :( I wish it were four, at least it'd be consistent with seasonal change.

I feel like I've been in a schlump lately, but only in certain aspects. In most ways I am extremely fulfilled. This is such a hard week on me emotionally year after year. I think I just feel the need to reflect and wrap it up as we move on to a new year. I'm so anxious. I am nervous about leaving the wonderful, wonderful age of 22. I never want it to end. I just have bad feelings about all the other ages, I knew 22 would be golden, but what will 23 hold? I guess I have three more months to battle my concerns and lay them to rest.

Now aside to something for the eye to gaze at as the pre-fall 2011 has been unveiled. Zac posen, as I remember, used to be one of Natalie Portman's favourites. She used to always wear things from his collections and I believe that she put him on the map. I seem to always go back to Natalie Portman. But it's just too easy. She resides in one of my favourite issues of Vogue ever. February 2004. I also am a fan of her work in films so it just seems like an obvious person to target. While I still have not seen Black Swan, some odd curiosity swept over me to see who she was going to wear to premieres. Which brought this whole new excitement over me(*TANGENT ALERT*); Tom Ford said in his recently published interview in Vogue, "I'll wait to see who is nominated for the Oscars. Then I offer to dress one person." I cannot wait to see who he selects! It might just be Natalie Portman, although pregnancy presents itself, but it's not like he can't add a few stitches and seams ;)

So back to what I was originally trying to do with this was....

Emerald green dress is by Stella McCartney and the center one is Zac Posen.

Unfortunately I couldn't separate these pictures.

and see, they're friends too, his "muse". How cute! Also another one of his designs.

But moving away from Natalie Portman, we can nicely transition into Zac Posen. Pre-Fall 2011 is out and about and it couldn't be any more different than the spring 2011. Not that it's supposed to-and that's exactly what I like about it. I have to respect an artist whose work moves so fluidly and can differ from project to project. Of course, there are designers have that "Oh that is so and so" kind of familiarity and I can admire and respect that. Zac Posen has always had a funk to his style; youthful and eclectic. His work seems to be maturing and nicely! I love artists that can transform themselves to match the project they are working on [see; PJ Harvey]. I'm not sure that necessarily happens with Zac Posen, but I just wanted to make a note of admiration among those that do. Pre-fall feels like a mood piece. a Dark one. It's like the Gashlycrumb girls go glam. I like it. I like it's rigid sense of "cold is coming". Maybe it is the stance and darkness of the models. Spring 2011RTW is full of flamboyancy, sex, and femininity. I love it.

So here; we have Spring 2011 RTW by Zac Posen

and now here is a glimpse of his Pre-Fall 2011 Runway

Sorry for making this look rather broken.

Ralph, The September Issue, and the whole gang!

Ah. The September issue of Vogue has been in my possession for seven days. (I know, I'm late on this one)

& it is time to delve in to the favourites.

I have always liked Vogue for its smart writing, and yes,

Vogue does have articles in between the countless number of ads. (although I love the ads)

A few articles really caught my eye this issue and a few trends definitely do not make my list of things I will try to replicate or, well, re-create.

So if you have an issue of Vogue, grab it, and lets crack this thing open!

"Suitably Understated" was maybe my favourite article of the issue (pg. 486)

It's short and sweet, but the idea makes me swoon.

Ralph Lauren himself worked with this woman to create the perfect work ensamble. Something masculine, but when on the feminine figure would transform into nothing but sex and class. At the same time you ask? Leave it to Ralph- and his team of perfectly picked Italian men who flew in directly to make a suit for the author of the article. This is the classic look I was talking about, and when incorporated in the work place can create just the right mindset for success.

Casual Fridays bring out the best in me because I can ditch the god awful (worst thing I have ever seen) polo that I am forced to wear (you have no idea what this does to my creativity and mood). Anywhoooo..this article was a hit with me. I love the idea of meeting with one of the best designers of our time, talking about the mundane but also about his work over the course of his life. Not only to meet with him, but to coordinate a suit with your opinions and his to create perfection. Ah, lucky you, Sally Singer.

While we are on the subject of Ralph Lauren, I guess we can talk about the fall line, which I am in love with just as much as the latest Oscar de la Renta fall collection. I'll post a few pictures that will speak for themselves, but before they do, I guess I'll put a word in (that's so like me). I love the use of velvet in some of these outfits. Velvet brings me back to the days where I was 8 and getting custom figure skating dresses made for competitions. I love how rich it makes the outfit look, literally and figuratively. It's just gorgeous and especially for the autumn months and when incorporated in a layered kind of look. Bonus points if the velvet is super dark in colour, deep reds, dark greens, black, dark greys, etc. I love how he takes classic fall colours and that that all american, equestrienne-esque kind of look, but makes it high fashion, yet approachable? Perhaps that's not the right wording, but it's all I've got. On to the pictures. For more, go here.

There are so many great elements here. Whimsical high fashion is the best way to describe it now that I have it all laid out here.

Stop your drooling.

Something that made me do the exact opposite of swoon ::insert own imagery here:: was featured on page 508. "A little slouch goes a long way". I will disagree. It actually goes nowhere with me. While I don't mind most of what Hessnatur creates, I can't say that I love this hat that makes you look like a mouse that went roaming under the bed who came out with a sock on your head... see here. (and note, the picture in the magazine makes it look less appealing than this even)

For now, this is not a trend I'm on board with. However, it might be one of those things like animal prints, some people make them look fantastic, while others make you want to donate your jacket to save them further embarrassment. Who knows, I may bite my tongue later.

I loved the article "Breaking Ground" on page 554 about a Woman that lives and struggles with MS. My Grandmother has MS and it was good to gain some other perspective, learn more about it, and read about the advancements they have made in regards to treating it. Good questions were also brought up in reference to women and why they seem to struggle with more autoimmune diseases than men. Overall, a good read, plus it gave me a reason to e-mail my Grandmother.

Anthony Vaccarello also gave a great interview/story to Mark Holgate on page 520 in "PARIS when it SIZZLES". I really enjoyed what he had to say. Especially "Every season I try to grow but I like...a wardrobe of the essential pieces a woman needs right at that moment." Perfect. He also keeps his passion to himself and his work associates, saying he "...doesn't talk about fashion" when he is around friends. I admire that, sometimes I think the most important things should be the things least likely to share with just anyone because this way you have no external influence on your personal decisions. I need to remember that.

And one more quick note appears on page 324; Blake Lively looks amazing here. This is the best picture of her that I've seen. I can see that picture being one that follows her throughout her life. You know, like one of those books that will come out in 2045 that features fashion from our era.

Kind of like this one that I have that is simply amazing...that features the biggest designers, models, etc. of the past 65 years.

Good work, Mario Testino! Another great shot captured. See here;

Of course there are other many other great highlights in the September issue. I just pointed out a few quick favourites.

I'll leave you with a last photo of my outfit from today. I dig it. I am loving the mismatched prints. I feel most comfortable the more outlandish my clothes are. I am so glad that colder weather is on its way! I can layer layer layer! I really utilize my closet in the winter because I love having all sorts of things on top of each other. Hope you enjoy!

Have a wonderful week! Mix some prints!

I guess we will never know...

Why.

Why is the shittiest toilet paper in the house placed in MY bathroom? Really?

Why is it that I cannot drag myself to the gym today? Oh yeah--my hips are screaming at me.

The scene last night: Noodles.

The happening? Me scarfing down a large Mac & Cheese. (it's been awhile, cut me some slack)

Me saying to myself then: "I need to kick my ass in the gym tomorrow."

Me saying to myself now: "eh never mind." dammit. It's okay. I'm over it.

At this point its not good for my body to pump iron and physically exert my body.

Why is it that I am always low on money? I'm good at managing it, it just seems like I'm always worried about it. That's okay. MO MONEY MO PROBLEMS!

Why is it that I always put off washing my hair? (I am lucky, this is not my biggest problem)

I try to go a week without washing it. My hair is thick (very thick) & long, this allows me to go a long period of time without and ensures faster growth (I'm not stripping my hair of its nutrients everyday). But it takes awhile to dry (I refuse the blow dry process) so I'm always putting it off.

Why don't I have some spectacular talent that allocates fame fame fame?!

Then I thought about it. Even if I did have some great talent, 9 times out of 10 someone else is going to be just as good if not better. If I were a great singer, that doesn't make me special persay, it just makes me more well rounded. I guess that makes me feel better. It's all relative. But I seriously think I should have been famous by now.

Why can there not be thousands of Cookies By Design locations in the Chicagoland area so that Eric and I can move wherever we please? (Seriously, I almost wish I was still at Jamba so then I can up and quit entirely and just find a new job. Unfortch I'm attached to my job.)

Why the hell there are there things like THIS on the market? Seriously pretty soon there will be something to make your fingers, toes, and ears less fat. Jeepers.

Why can't I go anywhere without someone exclaiming "You're weird." WOW! Tell me something I don't know. I always accept this as a compliment.

Why do I buy magazines and barely read them? I always read my Vogue, but the January Issue is still sittin pretty on my bedroom floor mostly unread but already skimmed through.

Why is my boyfriend awesome? For thousands of reasons, but in most recent because he gave me an iTunes gift card as part of my xmas gift. At first I thought this to be odd because we both are avid downloaders, but not everything can be downloaded, so new music and apps are now making their appearance in my iTunes/iPhone and I'm quite grateful I didn't have to fork over that $4.99 for the AWESOME Trivial Pursuit app!

Why is it that I sometimes sit back and allow life to roll on by? Sometimes I feel like I do nothing with my free time. I'll just sit and stumble upon the internet, watch weather channel, download music, etc. Sometimes I feel like I'm really livin life, but I hate feeling like I let time go to waste. Such a sad thing. I should start putting myself to good use.

Why is it that no one else seems to have seen a squirrel walk? Seriously it's the funniest thing ever--they look so sly and shady and it's so different from their usual scamper. (this allocates the "You're weird" statement, I suppose)

Why can't we all be a little more emotional and sensitive? Sometimes I feel like I'm too much of both. But at the same time sometimes I feel completely cold and detached. I just feel like we have to put ourselves in other peoples shoes sometimes and think about how we would truly like to be treated and then treat others that way. Be open, accept others, and laugh a little. It cannot hurt.

Wow. Why did I get the idea to write this?

"Fashion! Turn to the left!"

"Hey guys, I think I've come to a conclusion. It's a big deal and I'm pretty excited about it"

...is what I uttered at work the other day to the girls decorating around the table.

Elyse goes, "So..what is it?" I'm sure she thinks its something important.

Then slips from my lips...

"I'm going to subscribe to Vogue because, well, I've been a long time reader..."

Silly girl thinking it might have been important ;)

But I guess it is kind of important to me.

I don't know why I didn't get a subscription my freshman year of high school when I first started adoring the fashion filled frail pages of couture.

How could you go wrong?

I have loved Vogue for so long it's not even funny.

I used to love creating outfits trying to mimic what I would see between the covers.

Some say they are all ads. A lot of them are.

But they are beautiful and carry inspiration.

There are some issues I remember perfectly.

Like this one. March. The Power Issue.

It's mega huge and it's always in March--my birthday month! :)

There are some issues I could re-order so I could just cherish them.

Like this one with Natalie Portman on the cover

I think it was like..2003? I know I was a sophomore in High School.

This issue was the best ever. I think it was February (cant find the cover anywhere!)

It had the best layout featuring Natalie with to-die-for hair.

I was so tempted to go with that kind of look in high school.

Her ensembles where phenomenal.

It's nice to see her all spruced up because her roles tend to be plain jane-ish.

It is also way easier to like her even more because she is vegan/vegetarian :)

I really respect her work and it's good to see great people among Vogue's pages.

But a huge reason why I loved this issue so much is because the fashion spread was AMAZING.

It featured crazy patterned Haute Couture dresses.

I remember being IN LOVE with an Oscar De La Renta dress.

Of course, I don't know how to find it now. I like this new fall collection though.

I remember being absolutely in LOVE with fashion.

That desire to follow it again is creeping back up and tapping me on the shoulder :)

Yikes! So I had two exams today. Business Math & Nutrition.

I finished them both extremely fast and that makes me VERY worried.

I think I did well on nutrition (I'd hope, it's a big passion of mine)!

But math. Yeaaahhhh. I dunno.

I finished and then I looked back and its like I didn't even remember I did it.

It just all went down on that paper so quick.

I don't even know if I knew what I was doing, but I got an answer for everything so I cannot complain. I even looked over it and still finished second. That can be good...or very very bad!

People have been saying the best things lately.

I have awesome friends. Even if they are away at colleges and located all over the place.

Awesome message I got today from Danielle.

It brings me back to the good days of weather class;

Danielle Rachford:

TESSSAAAA i miss your tessa-ness

umm life is pretty fucking fantastic. no complaints really.

i think about you all the time too, i miss the shit out of you.

there is no one here that openly threatens their own lives for a good grade hahahaha.

also, i miss your need to become an assassin. these are the things i love about you.

not many women can hold a light to your tessaness. its an energy all its own.

i need some of it, can we get together sometime while im home next week?

i think a drink is in order.

I cannot wait until summer so I can hang out with everyone when they come home.

For now I'm excited to get out of here for awhile myself and head down to the beach!

There will be more where this came from; but located in a much warmer environment!

(two weeks ago in Lake Forest)

I'm exxxhausted. It's been a good day, but a long one!

Have a great night!

-Tessabee

Song currently playing: Metric (Gold Guns Girls)