Can You Even Fathom How Important This Is?!

Holy crap, do I love Express. I mean, yeah, they're expensive, but they have great, great clothes and super-duper-a-million-percent-off sales pretty frequently; in fact I have a friend who got a pair of $90 pants for 15 big ones, and I snatched up my favorite purse ever-- orignally $40-- for the low, low price of ten freaking dollars. Seriously, wait your favorite items out and you'll get them for ridiculous prices. Also, Express is one of the only places I buy clothes for my boyfriend-- he loves their graphic tees and military shirts.

Of course, I was really excited to see that Lucky and Express are having a giveaway of sorts. Sign up at this address and simply press a button to enter for a chance to win. What are you trying to win? Every day that you enter you get the opportunity to win a $50 Express gift card as well as some Lucky shopping manuals. Furthermore, you're entered in a drawing for a $1000 gift card to Express. Oh my goodness does that concept excite me!

Like, seriously, what would I use all that money for? Glad you asked. Here's a sampling:

giant blooms tank dress: $69.50

I'm totally in love with this tank dress, and I'd probably wear it just about every day if I had it.

super soft shaker-stitch sweater: $49.50

How long have I been looking for a cardigan? Nope, don't own one. It's really a shame, but I can never find one that buttons exactly right. I almost succeeded the other day at Old Navy, but my boyfriend kindly pointed out that the darn thing-- which I tried on in a size or so bigger than I usually wear-- was down to my knees. This cardigan, though, doesn't even button at all, so I could circumvent that problem entirely. Plus, it looks so comfy and warm!

birdseye military topcoat: $298

My boyfriend also has an article of clothing he's been searching for forever: a great formal coat. I love this one for its military details, and you know it's warm because it's wool (and maybe a little itchy, but I can look over that while fantasy shopping). Neither of us could fit this coat into our budget now, but you know if I were handed a giant gift card, this would be up at the top of my "To Buy" list.

essential shirt: $39.50

I know this is a very ho-hum-looking purchase, but hear me out: Express has the best dress shirts I've ever worn. I have always had terrible luck finding dress shirts that are quality and fit properly over my quite large chest. Express's Essential Shirts are amazingly perfect in every way, and I want one of every single color. Seriously, ladies, if you've had a problem with poppage, go to Express right now and try one of these shirts on; you'll want to invest in one, I promise.

heart hinge cuff: $29.50

How pretty is this cuff? I love that all the hearts are different, and the hinge closure makes it an easy fit on almost any wrist. Seriously, you know you've been there: you attempted to try on a bracelet that just a wee bit too small, and you're left struggling in front of some bemused employee as you try to wiggle it off your hand. Hinges eliminate this problem.



So now's your chance! Go enter the contest and try your luck to win a fantastic gift card to a fantastic store! What've you got to lose?

all photos are screenshots from the express website.

Dorky Things to Do With Your Boyfriend or Girlfriend

mgm photography.

Google Analytics is awesome. If you have a blog, you should definitely be using this or something like it, as I know I've been finding it super helpful for tracking my most popular posts, traffic info, etc. It's also really overwhelming: the other day I almost peed myself with shock and joy when I realized someone from Estonia was reading my blog. TMI?

Moving on.

If you're familiar with Google Analytics, you probably realize that you can look at what key words people have used to come across your site. You also probably know this if you read Daddy Likey. I haven't gotten any really wacky searches, but I have gotten a couple that gave me posting ideas. One of them? "Dorky thing to do with your boyfriend." Well, gee, I don't have an official post on that already, but who am I-- an expert on injecting one's relationship with geeky bonding moments-- to deny that person an internet resource?

So without further ado, here are a few ideas for those of you wanting to get a little nerdy with your matching Tetris piece.

1. Read a Book Outloud Together
I have to put this one first and foremost because-- true story-- this is what brought my boyfriend and I together once and for all. Luke, the cute boy I had a crush on, had to read August Wilson's "Fences" for a literature class, and I obliged to help him get through it one night when he was alone doing office hours (this will sound even more scandalous when I mention his office hours were for a club that provides free condoms). We decided to read the book out loud, with one of the rules, of course, being that every character had to be given a funny voice. We spoke in awful Southern accents and when the stage directions said "[puts his arm around her]," my heart fluttered all over the place when he did. We didn't finish it all in that one night, so I invited Luke over the next evening to read while my roommate was away for the weekend. Long story short, that pretty awful play lead to us talking until 4 o'clock in the morning, when he asked me to be his girlfriend. I'm just saying that from personal experience that this can be a funny and productive bonding experience if you pick the right book.

2. Spend the Day at a Museum
Personally, when I think dorky day at the museum, I think the more specific the museum, the better; you know like the Museum of Turquoise 19th Century Boats or something. If you can't find one that's oddly, randomly specific, that's okay. Find any ol' science, history, art, sports, you name it museum in your area and try to visit exhibits that are about something foreign to the both of you. Giddily share new facts with each other and resist running through the dinosaur exhibit, 'cause remember, those museum cops can be pretty tough! My personal favorite is the Boston Museum of Science. TIP: If you go to a science museum, remember to share some space ice cream!

3. Play Video Games in Your PJs
There are few things I'd rather do on a Friday night than sit around with my boyfriend in our PJs and embark on a dangerous co-op mission in Gears of War. I'm thoroughly terrible at it, but it's so much fun to strategize, scream in fear, and ultimately send the bad guys right on down to the proverbial H-E-Double Hockey Sticks. Of course, if you're not into gore or shooters, I'd also recommend Soul Calibur or Mario Kart as well. Really, play whatever you're into-- catch Pokemon side by side if the mood strikes! If you're video game geeks who've run out of two-player games to play, go to Gamestop and ravage the clearance section. You'll find a lot of hilariously bad/super fun games, sometimes for less than a dollar or two. OR: lay the smack down at an arcade-- just make sure you win!

4. Watch Videos of Cute Animals
Youtube is full of them! Provide your own LolCat-like commentary.

5. Tea Party Date
Dress in your finest attire. Serve scones and Earl Grey on fancy China and have a civil debate about politics and your favorite literature. You don't have to get your stuffed animals into it, but I won't stop you.

6. Play Chess in Public
You two will look ridiculously intellectual. Bonus point if you do it somewhere unexpected (ex. the food court at your local mall). Don't know how? Check it.

What are your favorite dorky things to do with your boyfriend or girlfriend?

Eye Jewelry OR The Creepiest Piercing I've Ever Seen

Young folks these days, you know? They'll just pierce anything to be cool.

Okay, okay, truthfully, these aren't real eye piercings. The, erm, eye-rings are actually suspended from contact lenses and supposedly won't cause an iota of damage to your precious peepers. They will, however, damage your relationships with your friends and parents, since they'll think you're insane.

Now, if you want some cooler-looking eye piercings that may or may not actually damage your vision, fear not-- they have those, too!




Doctors say that these platinum implants-- which'll run you somewhere between $610 and $1232-- are probably not a great idea if you value your sight. London eye surgeon John Dart says that "[t]he stud is quite likely to move around and migrate because the tissue in the conjunctiva is quite loose," and that "[a]ny movement is likely to cause inflammation. If it moves, there will be some scar tissue and you could get some bleeding." Um, yikes?

Would you ever wear eye jewelry/an eye implant?

RIP Really Old Crappy Flip Flops

I will be very honest with you and say that for some reason unbeknownst to me at this time, I hate the idea of wearing new flip-flops. I refuse to shop for them, and when my mother kindly picks a pair up for me at the store, they generally get exiled to the farthest, darkest corner of my room I can find. It is for that reason I have been wearing the same terribly old, dirty, no-foamy-support-left-whatsoever flip-flops for the past, oh, three years. I'm not even exaggerating, people. Three years. This makes them, in the world of $10 sandals, pretty much like sea turtles for your feet. Remember that from Kratt's Creatures? They live to approximately a zillion. I think that's exactly what they said, too. A zillion.

Of course, when it came time to choose just 10 pairs of shoes (which turned into 12, but is still a huge improvement) to bring with me to college, I grabbed my ratty old flip-flops and declared them to be my everyday sort of footwear, as the only other summer-ish shoes I brought were a pair of white Skechers flats that make my feet sweaty and my sky-high Forever21 beauties. Needless to say, I planned on wearing the flip-flops just about every day, and I was okay with that. I wanted that.

Then, tragedy struck. Today, on the first day of class and only my second day at school, I was walking home from my news writing class. As I approached the front door to my dorm I thought to myself "huh, I wonder if I can see into my boyfriend's window from here." I walked back and forth a few times, creepily craning my neck around in search of which room was most likely to be his and not giving a single thought to the horrible event that was about to happen.

I tripped. Out of nowhere. No reason, it seemed. I looked around. Good, no one sa-- WHY IS MY FOOT NO LONGER IN MY SHOE?!

This is why.

I hobbled back to my room. I stared at the dead flip flop. I couldn't make any more excuses to keep them, and I think, what with the wonderful, exciting, sea-turle-length life they lived, they would have gladly, willingly signed a "Do Not Resuscitate" form if they were animate objects at all.

I lowered them into the trash, and now they're gone. Forever.

I miss them already, but I know they would have wanted me to get a new pair of flip-flops, except I don't want new flip-flops, I want those flip-flops.

Today was a tragic day.


Have you ever worn something until it fell apart? Did you need a support group to get through it?

Musical Interlude

It's true.

How to Pack for College Without Going Overboard

by [Ghost]

If you're going off to college in the next few days, or weeks, or ever, the idea of packing is looming over your head in a pretty intimidating fashion. I get that. Oh, believe me, I do. You're probably worried about what you'll forget, what you'll wear, how you'll get all those suitcases into one car, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. Am I right? Oy, it's terrible! So that's why I decided to sit on down and procrastinate my own packi-- I mean, do you a completely selfless service by writing a brief guide to packing for college.


1. Take Your Dorm Space into Consideration

While packing, it's natural to feel the need to grab every little thing off your shelves and shove it in a bag, but you have to be careful. If you have any knowledge of what your room will probably look like, do try to estimate how much space you'll have for your stuff. For instance, if you have very limited shelf space, you might not want to take your snow globe collection, or if you only have a small closet, you've got to limit how much clothing you bring or bring your own extra storage.

2. Snacks Can Wait

Packing your family car can be pretty stressful and precise, so lay off on buying things like snacks until you get to school. Most colleges have some kind of shuttle service, so more likely than not you can get that industrial-sized ramen tablet once you get to school instead of trying to cram it in the trunk.

3. Don't Take Your Whole Wardrobe

If you're like me, when you really think about the clothing you have and the clothing you actually wear, there's a big difference. When going off to college, really think about what you're actually going to wear. Don't take: clothing that doesn't go with something already, clothing you haven't worn in over a month (unless it's because of the season/weather conditions-- and do consider the climate your college is in!), stuff you used to fit in to but hope to someday, or too many formal clothes (I tend to dress up pretty regularly, but I leave my really dressy dresses at home until it's almost time for our school's big dance). You want to have a few types of clothing, though, as well-- super comfortable for class or walking across campus, out-with-the-girls get-ups, shorts and tees for the gym, classy for a job interview or big presentation.... you get the idea. Also: remember to bring enough hangers!

4. Use an Arbitrary Number if You Have a Lot of it

I told y'all about how I brought 26 pairs of shoes to college last year. Well, this year I decided to set a number limit that I will be able to live with and not stray from. I'm a shoe girl lately, but I decided to stick to 10 pairs, thinking out which pairs to bring according to the kinds of categories I listed above when I talked about clothes. Doesn't sound appealing? Think of it this way: you won't have to worry where you'll have room to put that shiny new pair of shoes. Or purse. Or skirt. Or whatever your fashion Achilles heel happens to be.

5. Get a Great Bookbag and Use It

Pack little trinkets, books for your classes, moleskin notebooks, your mp3 player, and other odds and ends in your school bookbag. You've got it-- don't forget to use it!

6. Don't Forget Rain or Snow Boots!

Of course, this only applies if you're going to school in a climate that makes it necessary. I go to school in Worcester, Massachusetts, which has some pretty extreme weather, and I quickly learned that I need to put aside my disdain for rubber rain boots and get a pair-- quick! I also never forget my snow boots, because I know that there will be long periods of time where they're all I can realistically wear.

7. Buy a Chic, Climate-Appropriate Coat

I love my wool coat like I love my trusty snow boots. I bought one that has some really interesting details, is black, and looks great with whatever I wear, dressed up or down. Coats take up a lot of room, so find a couple you love, and just bring those. Buy lighter jackets for colleges in places that don't get so cold. If you're in Arizona, for instance, get a cardigan or a jean jacket for cool nights.

8. Consider Wrinkle-Free Fabrics

We've all been there: you stayed over your friend or your boyfriend's room and woke up five minutes before class (or maybe you just forgot to laundry-- been there, done that, am I right?). All you have is the outfit you wore the day before. If it's a cotton dress that's all balled-up on the floor (or that you slept in-- oops), well, you're probably a wrinkled mess. Even though they're not natural, polyester/rayon blends stay a lot more wrinkle-free than plain ol' cotton, and will look pretty pristine even if you pick them up off the floor, throw them on, and run to Biology before the TA marks you absent.

9. Limit Sentimental Trinkets

I know you want to take something to remind you of every single fond memory you've made at home, but all that stuff takes up space in your luggage and in your dorm room that could be used much more efficiently. Try fitting all those photos you want to take with you into one album or on one corkboard. Another great idea? Get together with your favorite guys and gals and make a wonderful scrapbook full of photos, ticket stubs, passed notes, and everything in between.

10. Remember: You Can Always Get More Stuff

Please believe me here: you're going to acquire a lot of stuff while at college. You'd be surprised how much less space you'll have by the end of the year just from all the odds and ends that have found their way into your possession. When you're packing, consider that you're starting a new year and that you're going accumulate plenty of new things: things you're going to have to bring home at the end of the year. Give yourself the space to indulge in your new and exciting interests and desires; if you bring everything but the kitchen sink, you'll feel overwhelmed.

11. Check with Your Roommate!

This might sound pretty obvious, but make sure you don't forget this step before packing up. You don't want to accidentally end up bringing an extra TV.

12. Breathe, Relax, Stop Worrying

If you forget something, it's not the end of the world. You can always kindly ask your parents to ship your missing item or buy something similar in a store. Anecdote: I ran into this situation last year when I got to college and realized I had forgotten Wilford, the teddy bear my boyfriend gave me our first Christmas together. I panicked and called my mother, who was already on the road home, to plead with her to send him to me, priority mail. Wilford arrived a-okay within a day or two, and I'm sure he enjoyed his trip with the United States Postal Service. Basically, I pretty much had a coronary, but I did survive, so you can, too.


What about you? Any college packing tips you'd like to share?

Don't Let the Pictures Become the Event

candid kiss captured by google maps street view

Stop posing, start living.

What is a "Bikini Body"?

photo from byrodesigns

As summer starts to wane, those of us in milder climates are already preparing to put away our swimsuits in favor of more modest attire. No longer will we be lazing around in the sun for hours at a time, basking in the glow of leisure and the distinctive smell of the ocean. For many of us, it's a bit saddening, though surely many, many others are breathing sighs of relief. Summer can be an extremely high-pressure season, especially for women, and even more especially for women with body-image issues (and isn't that all of us, at least sometimes?). Before spring is even in full swing, magazine covers are splattered with all sorts of quick-fix diets to banish jiggly tummies and behinds, exercise regimens to tone the upper arms, swimsuits that flatter and hide one's flaws. "Get That Bikini Body and Feel Great!" the headlines promise, the thin, airbrushed cover model smiling her cheesy smile in reassurance. Yes, these workouts and diets will work, and then you will be happy-- if, of course, happiness is measured by how good you look in a bikini.

But seriously, what is this "bikini body" we hear everyone constantly speaking of every spring and summer? To me, it conjures up an image of some sort of Baywatch-worthy woman with large, perky breasts and a perfectly toned stomach. Her thighs and her butt and cellulite free. She runs around a lot and doesn't worry what other people think of her because she is perfect. While many of you might think of something slightly different, I bet the image of a bikini body that you conjure up has something to do with how good you feel in a bikini and if you even wear one. I mean, do you have to be a skinny-minny to wear a bikini in public? It certainly feels like it, but I don't think it's necessarily true.

Anecdote: a week ago, my boyfriend and I went to a heavily populated beach for the day. We spent a few hours in the water and laying out on our towels before packing up to go explore the boardwalk and get some lunch. As we headed toward the car, Luke sighed and said "the beach is always such a disappointment." I asked him why and he explained how everyone always makes the beach out to be some sort of hot-chick shopping market, but there were, in his opinion, simply none to be found.

"What about that girl? Or that one?" I asked, quietly pointing out various slender women baking in lounge chairs or playing games with their friends.

"They're all so skinny. They don't have any butts or boobs or anything. And they don't even look like they're having fun half the time."

I'm always surprised when my boyfriend says these things, because as a woman, I've been conditioned to think that without question, skinnier is better. When I walk the beach in a bikini, I often feel ashamed and judged, but I try not to let it interfere with having fun. Going to the beach can be a miserable experience in that sense. Girls spend so much time sizing up the competition and trying to look hotter than the next girl that they forget to have fun.

But you know what? It's not a contest. Someone out there finds your body-- wiggles and all-- more attractive than the airbrushed ideal. Someone would rather see a carefree plus-size girl in a bikini than a sample-size girl sucking it in.

I think it's terrible that many of us feel shame when we expose our bodies on the beach or around the pool. When I was thinking of writing this post, I Googled "too fat to wear a bikini," and I was so saddened by how many young girls were asking whether their weight is socially acceptable for wearing a bikini. It often makes me wish we would start teaching kids to ignore the popular media in school.

When I see a big girl wearing a bikini, I smile. I think it's confidence that makes a bikini body beautiful, whether you're skinny or fat or somewhere in between. Enjoy your body, because you are someone's ideal, even if you're not yours.

Results May Vary

by jennipenni

*A polka band's rendition of "Hot and Cold" by Katy Perry. Oh my gosh. I don't think my life was complete until I saw this.

*Please follow Nikkimuse on Twitter. She's a very nice girl who goes to Clark with me (plus a kickass model, plus a kickass photographer) who's going to be giving a dollar to ChildFund.Org for every 2000 Twitter followers she gets. Here's a direct link to her Twitter.

*A rant about why paper doesn't beat anything.

*Have you ever heard of Advanced Style? It's a street style blog full of pictures of chic elderly ladies and gents. Truly awesome and inspiring.

by jason nocito

*The PS22 chorus sings "The Call" by Regina Spektor. That song alone always gives me chills anyway, but these kids are so amazing. Watch every one of their videos. You won't be disappointed, only floored. At least check out "Just Dance." Seriously, these kids (fifth graders!) are stars.

*Wendy at Glossed Over hits the nail on the head with an article about the fetishization of youth. Our society associates sex appeal with maturity and has no problem using sex to sell everything and anything, but at the same time has a very prudish view of what sexuality should be for young people. Why can't Miley wear thigh-high boots? I believe it's that people want to sexualize her in that little girl way instead of in the "mature" sense (and doesn't that seem a little more sick than the overt sexiness?). There are a lot of weird fine lines hanging around out there.

*I want to buy a staple-free stapler just to see how it actually works.

*If you haven't seen it, allow me to save you the two hours and twenty minutes: Revenge of the Sith in 5 seconds.


andres segura by david sims. find the rest here-- major eye candy!

*For the meme-lovers out there: That Fucking Cat Dress-Up (possibly NSFW as you can put *ahem* male genitalia on him).

*Lilly Allen directs a very special song at everyone who thinks gay marriage is wrong (lyrics are NSFW).

*Fascinating interview with Takeji Hirakawa, a prominent Japanese fashion critic.

*When I first played "Twilight Princess" and got the Spinner, the first thing I said to my boyfriend was "oh my God, is there a YTMND of this???" There is.

*Millions from One is a charity to provide clean water to people in need. With the purchase of one of their leather bracelets (for $10), you can provide one person with clean water for 30 years. I do wonder why they chose leather, as tanning leather can contaminate water. Irony?


natalia vodianova as jean shrimpton. photos by steven meisel for us vogue may '09.

*Scary old-school surgical tools. Macabre is the new cool.

*A guide to creating genuine relationships with your blog readers.

*Did you see the Perseids meteors? They were supposed to show up at 4 AM this morning in my area, but I missed 'em. Did you make a wish?

*Rice field art is awesome.

*The Man Wall costs almost $15,000. Every man across the globe is waiting for it to go on clearance.

*Give a random hug.

portrait of a playmobile pony. photo's mine.

i have listened to his sam hart song almost constantly for days now. i would totally marry this guy if i didn't have a boyfriend already, just sayin'.

These are some of thing I've been lovin' lately, but results may vary. Tell me what you think in the comments!

Society Continues to Disappoint Me OR Mildly Having to do with Fashion if You Count Dog Fashion

When I found this on Geekologie, I wanted to die. Seriously, kill me now.