Because I don't spend enough time online...

I have discovered some really fabulous blogs. I know my productivity has decreased a bit since I took up blogging, but c'est la vie. Don't worry, I have to go back to work in three weeks! In the meantime, I will be browsing through these beautiful blogs.

Gypsy Purple:

http://gypsypurple.blogspot.com/

Faye and Greer:

http://fayeandgreer.blogspot.com/

Aquarian Thoughts:

http://aquarianthoughts.blogspot.com/

Designers Block:

http://designersblock.blogspot.com/

Mary McDonald Design:

http://www.marymcdonaldinc.com/home.html

Cupcake Couture

I was recently on a cupcake kick (I even made some chocolate cuppies with Magnolia Bakery butter cream frosting) and stumbled across Kylie Lambert's beautiful creations. I think her bakery, Le Cupcake is based out of Australia, so if Meredith and Allen ever move there, we'll have to get some when Fabian and I visit. They are almost too beautiful to eat. Almost.

See more: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lecupcake/

This Week's Quote

Part of the reason I dislike living in the suburbs is the fact that the monotony of it all can be so stifling. All of the houses look the same, the stores and restaurants look the same, and the people are all so alike. My suburb is a very homogeneous one, but beyond the suburb thing, I think most people tend to fall into a comfortable rut after a while. I know I certainly have this summer, so this quote will be my inspiration to shake things up!

The Secret World of Haute Couture

Haute couture is a phrase that many toss around carelessly. Some of my students foolishly think that a denim mini skirt from Abercrombie can be considered haute couture so long as they think it's cute. However, "in fashion parlance, haute couture is something very specific: A garment that is completely custom-made, from impeccable lining to hand-stitched hem. Not only is the dress bespoke, the fabrics and embellishments are of the highest quality, and the tailors, seamstresses, embroiderers, lace makers and other craftspeople who spend hundreds of hours assembling these pieces are the most skilled in the world." These beautiful works of art can cost up to $100,000, though you shouldn't expect the design houses to give you prices.



Last night, PBS aired a documentary called The Secret World of Couture in which a British journalist tries to infiltrate the very elite world of haute couture. She travels to Paris, New York, and Los Angeles in hopes of finding one of the 200 members of a very exclusive club of haute couture lovers, from both old and new money . The club is more of a secret society with its very hush, hush nature. The designers featured in the documentary, Karl Lagerfeld of Chanel, John Galliano of Christian Dior, Valentino, and Christian Lacroix refused to disclose any details about their wealthy clients, adhering to a type of doctor-patient confidentiality.


One of the club members who agreed to be interviewed is fellow Houstonian, Becca Cason Thrash, wife of multi-millionaire doctor and oil fortune heir, John Thrash. She is known for her posh parties and amazing couture collection. If you must ask, no, we don't run in the same circle. Becca guides the journalist through the arduous process of becoming a member of the haute couture club. According to Becca and the other women in the documentary, once you go haute, you never go back. The ladies all feel that their love for the art form is a bona fide addiction. Each season, they absolutely must flock to Paris to add more designer creations to their collections. It's an impossible habit to break, though they aren't trying.

Personally, I love flipping through the pages of Vogue admiring the beautiful creations, but that is probably as close as I will get to the exclusive world of haute couture-wearing women.

Blogging is the New Black

I decided to start blogging out of boredom. I'm a teacher, so I'm off for the summer and thought "Why not give it a try?". Slowly, but surely, this has become my newest addiction. Writing my blog entries is theraputic in a sense, as I get to share my experiences and opinions. I can only hope that you might enjoy reading my blog as much as I enjoy writing it. I don't know why it took me as long as it did, but I've recently discovered some great blogs. I am able to read about food, architecture, design, fashion, travel, photography...the list goes on. Check out http://www.delightfulblogs.com/ for a great collection of blogs categorized by topic. It's like a virtual yellow pages for blogs.

Dude, where's my car?

I had a doctor's appointment this morning and was pleasantly surprised when I was in and out of my doctor's office in thirty minutes. That almost never happens! I usually spend about forty-five minutes in the waiting room, but not today. I checked in at 10:05 and was on my merry way by 10:35... or so I thought.

Fabian and I dropped my Pathfinder off at the Nissan dealership this morning because it has been making a squeaking noise, so I took him to work and drove his Acura all day. My doctor's office is in the new professional building at the hospital and I had to park in the new seven-level parking garage. This seemed easy enough until I had to find the car after my appointment. I literally walked up and down six flights of stairs (I didn't check the roof) eight times looking for the car!

I tried hitting the panic button so that I would hear the car's alarm. That didn't work. I would later find out that you have to hold the button down for a couple of seconds. Locking the doors didn't work either. On my Nissan, the horn toots pretty loudly when I lock the doors from my key fob, but not on the Acura. The TL makes a low, unobtrusive noise. Didn't the people at Acura foresee moments like these?!

Finally, after about twenty minutes of searching, I paged security from the emergency box with the flashing, blue light. I let them know that I couldn't find my car and the operator assured me that a security guard would come get me and take me through the parking garage in his golf cart to find my car. Fifteen minutes passed and I never made the acquaintance of this so-called golf cart driving security guard. Frustrated with my ridiculous situation and the fact that I had been baking in the 97 degree heat for 40 minutes, I decided to give it one more try. I climbed the stairs two more times going up and down and checking every level until it dawned on me to go right at the top of the stairs instead of taking a left. I hit the panic button and there it was! After nearly an hour of searching, I had found the car. Next time you want to mix up your work out routine, just have me hide your car in a parking garage.

Quote of the Week

I've always enjoyed collecting quotes, so I am going to start posting a "Quote of the Week". We'll see how this works out. I may post them more frequently.