SO MANY BOOTS

and just not enough time. also money. i remember when my rent was 300 a month--but i would also be willing to be homeless for these boots. mwah!!

this is the fantasy suite from zappos.com. a great place for shoes, boots, and indulgences of all kinds. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!

Dinner with the bachelorettes

My close girlfriends, from waaay back, and I got together for dinner the other night at the best Thai restaurant in non-Hollywood, LA. Samunluong in Pomona is our frequent hang--out. Amazing food, fast service, cheap prices. It's the triple threat--therefore, irresistible to Asians.

We try to meet about once a quarter for what we call a Hump Dinner--that refers to our "Dry Hump in the Suberbs" meetings. Yes, that's right--I said "Dry Hump."

This unsavory term evolved, as we considered ourselves the lighter, more innocent version of "Sex in the City" (our favorite show to watch together when we lived in a rickety old house many years ago, across from a crack den full of friendly children). 

That is a story for another time.  But just so you know, I'm Carrie. Plus Charlotte. But agewise, I'm the Samantha. :(

Anyway, some snaps: Kimi, Kat in Hipstamatic retro-glory.

A snapshot of the midwest

Hello, Michiganders! I am quite charmed by your lovely trees, the friendly folks, the nonchalant neighborliness. However, I am now floored by your festivals--the parades, in particular. 

We were lucky enough to experience the Grand Floral Blossomtime Parade this past week, in all its glory in St. Joseph, Michigan. So many tinselled floats! So many princesses waving stiffly! So many marching bands with one lone piccolo player tooting and marching with all his might.

And oh, one delightful little new friend. This boxer pup was 12 weeks, and just as frisky and friendly as you can imagine, with one wet sniffling nose, liquid brown eyes, and an impossibly enthusiastic waggling tail.

Pup: "Ooh! Ooh! Take me home!"
Me: "Oh, puppy, I would love to. But your mean owner and my mean hubby and the mean police won't allow it. We'll just have to be pen pals."
Pup and Me: *Whimper.* Ah well.

Another big highlight of the trip was seeing family. We got to catch up with Teresa and Michael, my cultured, globetrotter brother and sister in-law, who currently reside in Tokyo and live a high-flying life complete with frequent exploration of Japan, many international friends, and in Teresa's case, knitting.

Here she is, the lovely Teresa from Tokyo (by way of Chicago), with her own creation--a hand-knitted hat, topped with a leather flower we found in a Bangkok market. Yes, she is really that cute, and that dimple is NOT photoshopped in. Btw, we were eating in an Indian restaurant. That makes this photo extra multi-cultural!

Speaking of Asians, I saw this rubber chicken bag in O'Hare airport, and had to, HAD to snap a quick, furtive picture. Isn't it hilarious? I think taking this bag with me to Trader Joe's, the library, and then to Anthropologie for the day would be perfectly appropriate.

Good-bye, Midwest! Your blossoms, as well as your people are gorgeous, bright, and welcoming. But I have to get myself back to California, where people may be rude, but the sun shines more than 6 weeks/year. What's that? Oh come on--that's not a huge exageration, is it?

swing maven

Anyone who swing dances in LA knows who Rusty Frank is. She is a professional dancer, owner of a popular dance studio, and generally a fox who knows how to work a white satin blouse.

I've taken several months of lessons with her and am delighted by her style--she always appears comfortable but with a certain timeless flare. Is she retro? Is she modern? Yes and yes. And she can dance circles around just about anyone.

Oh, and have I mentioned, she is queen of the posing for pictures in a non-staged manner. I have much to learn from her. Begone, awkward stance!

cynthia vincent is chuckling

about the frenzy she has WHIPPED up.
c'mon, target!!
thanks to rosemary, alert reader in the same predicament:

"I was drooling over the yellow sandals and of course NO store had them. BOO! The style writer for The LA Times feels our pain: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/alltherage"

April 28, 2010 8:25 AM

who sent me this link to a very apropos LA times article.
GIVE US OUR WEDGES, TARGET!!! OR THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY!!

btw, rosemary, the yellows are quite fetching, aren't they?

cynthia vincent, can you BELIEVE this?

the CRAZY behavior i have been exhibiting!! i have gone to 3 targets, and searched every zip code i have friends/family in and NO ONE has a size 8. in fact, they're out of even 7.5 and 8.5.

cv, it's like you are selling faux leather crack. please, please, how can i get some?

---

1.11 miles

Torrance 3433 Sepulveda Blvd, Torrance, CA 90505 Phone: (310) 214-1561 Hours: M-Fr: 8:00am to 10:00pm; Sa: 8:00am to 10:00pm; Su: 8:00am to 9:00pm.

Out Of Stock

1.89 miles

Redondo Beach 1601 Kingsdale Ave, Redondo Beach, CA 90278 Phone: (310) 750-0003 Hours: M-Fr: 8:00am to 10:00pm; Sa: 8:00am to 10:00pm; Su: 8:00am to 9:00pm.

Out Of Stock

3.68 miles

Gardena 2169 W Redondo Beach Blvd, Gardena, CA 90247 Phone: (310) 327-0762 Hours: M-Fr: 8:00am to 10:00pm; Sa: 8:00am to 10:00pm; Su: 8:00am to 9:00pm.

Out Of Stock

4.08 miles

Manhattan Beach 1200 N Sepulveda Blvd, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 Phone: (310) 546-5601 Hours: M-Fr: 8:00am to 10:00pm; Sa: 8:00am to 10:00pm; Su: 8:00am to 9:00pm.

Out Of Stock

4.40 miles

Carson 651 W Sepulveda Blvd, Carson, CA 90745 Phone: (310) 507-0020 Hours: M-Fr: 8:00am to 10:00pm; Sa: 8:00am to 10:00pm; Su: 8:00am to 9:00pm.

Out Of Stock

5.12 miles

Carson North 20700 S Avalon Blvd Ste 750, Carson, CA 90746 Phone: (310) 819-3011 Hours: M-Fr: 8:00am to 10:00pm; Sa: 8:00am to 10:00pm; Su: 8:00am to 9:00pm.

Out Of Stock

5.90 miles

Hawthorne 2700 W 120th St, Hawthorne, CA 90250 Phone: (323) 492-1000 Hours: M-Fr: 8:00am to 10:00pm; Sa: 8:00am to 10:00pm; Su: 8:00am to 9:00pm.

Out Of Stock

6.59 miles

San Pedro 1701 N Gaffey St, San Pedro, CA 90731 Phone: (310) 507-6289 Hours: M-Fr: 8:00am to 10:00pm; Sa: 8:00am to 10:00pm; Su: 8:00am to 9:00pm.

Out Of Stock

7.40 miles

Inglewood 3471 W Century Blvd, Inglewood, CA 90303 Phone: (310) 677-2436 Hours: M-Fr: 8:00am to 10:00pm; Sa: 8:00am to 10:00pm; Su: 8:00am to 9:00pm.

Out Of Stock

8.06 miles

Compton-Rancho Dom 1621 South Alameda St, Compton, CA 90220 Phone: (310) 735-0096 Hours: M-Fr: 8:00am to 10:00pm; Sa: 8:00am to 10:00pm; Su: 8:00am to 9:00pm.

Out Of Stock

zac posen rocks target

like most people, i seem to find it impossible to get in and out of target without spending at least $75. that is going to be even harder now that zac posen is the featured designer for target. his collections are always youthful, vibrant, and glamorous. no exception here.

this denim snap-up chambray dress looked just ok in person. i'm wearing an xs (so true/smallish), and even though it fit pretty well, and i love any dress with big pockets, i wasn't completely sold. plus, the bottom hem has this thin drawstring that can actually turn this dress into a functional parachute. only kind of kidding. for 40 bucks. meeh.

this exuberant brocade print is beautifully cut, but runs big (i am wearing a size 3, and i'm usually a 5-7).
i thought the big bow, the pleated waist and um, the pockets (i lurve me some pockets!), were adorable.

however, was NOT crazy about the zipper in front over your left bosom. handy for breastfeeding? escape route/relief for those more well-endowed? saw some complaints about that on the target review--funny enough, they're out of stock online.

just couldn't see myself wearing it on more than one occasion--like at a garden party with the queen of england ('course, properly accompanied by a prim cardi and a stiff pillbox hat). about 75 bucks.



WEIRD. i fit the size 3 dress, but had to go up to the size 7 skirt. the brocade is still beautiful, and of course this is more useable than the full-on dress.
then again, it also tends to pouch out, seeming to imply an early but definite pregnancy situation.


oooh! oooh!! to me, this was the most exciting piece. i know not everyone wants to wear a red leather jacket, and surely not everyone wants to pay $200 for said red leather jacket.

but what if that rlj was designed by a certain zac posen, fit like a dream, and made someone feel like a glam rockin' biker chick?

well, here's to target (cheers! clink!) , once again proving that they're waaay better than walmart. if there was ever any doubt, zac posen's mere presence has now banished all.