Foxy

Tally-Ho

noreply@blogger.com (Foxy) — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 15:43:20 PDT

This picture makes me feel like I did when I saw The Black Stallion for the first time. Remember when Alec galloped down the beach with no saddle or bridle or anything?

For some reason that scene makes me think anything is possible.

Source: None via Jessica on Pinterest

Dapper Gents

noreply@blogger.com (Foxy) — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 07:15:33 PDT

Have you seen Midnight in Paris with Owen Wilson? It got me thinking...if you could live in any era other than the present, what would it be?

There's something about the '20s and '30s I find very appealing. Although my notion of that time is largely formed by The Great Gatsby and Gosford Park. So I'd have to be a dissolute lady who manages to endure her tragically boring life with clever repartee and lots of horse back rides all over some epically gorgeous estate.

Also I'd have to go parties where men dressed like this:

Source: a-ladys-findings.tumblr.com via Jessica on Pinterest

Independence Day

noreply@blogger.com (Foxy) — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 22:39:00 PDT

Happy 4th of July!

Isn't Rosie fierce?

Source: thefrisky.com

Adventure

noreply@blogger.com (Foxy) — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 22:24:00 PDT

Didn't you always think that R2-D2 had a thing for Leia?

Source: gizmodo.com.au

On the Move

noreply@blogger.com (Foxy) — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 22:04:00 PDT

Books. Love to read 'em, hate packing 'em.

5 small boxes for 2 bookshelves. Lots more to go.

It's enough to make me weep.

Source: everythinglovely.tumblr.com

Glitter

noreply@blogger.com (Foxy) — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 22:30:02 PDT

It's pictures like these that make me wish I could see the before and after. Wherever they've been and wherever they're going is pretty rad.

Also, the third girl on the right looks like she's kind of bitter, the first has a bit of a smirk, and the one in the middle...she's just grinning pretending everything's fine, fine.

One thing is for certain, someone's gonna be knocking back some Greyhounds later.

Source: passionedelamode.tumblr.com

It's an Inside Thing

noreply@blogger.com (Foxy) — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 20:52:43 PDT

If I didn't care about what could make a camel laugh before, I do now.

Source: everythinglovely.tumblr.com

Bling Bling Bling

noreply@blogger.com (Foxy) — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 20:50:45 PDT

A few weeks ago, I ordered a rad necklace off the Etsy. Partly for the name (Momma's Got a Brand New Bag) and mostly 'cause it was so AWESOME.

Vint Design sent it in a super nice box...

And the necklace was even better in person.

I was back stalking Vint Design's Etsy shop and saw this:

Man. If I was getting married now, I would be all up on that.

What I Wore - Afternoon Wedding

noreply@blogger.com (Foxy) — Tue, 24 May 2011 17:50:01 PDT

Remember that Saturday afternoon wedding that presented such a conundrum?

If I'm honest, the thing that made it so hard to figure out what to wear had a lot more to do with whose wedding it was than when.

One of Mr. Foxy's cousins was tying the knot. When it comes to his family events, I'm seized by the need to look my best. Not that I don't for other occasions, but there's a healthy dollop of anxiety that's something to do with...I have no idea. But I know I need to get over it. They're all really nice people who I'm sure would be just as thrilled to see me if I showed up in a burlap sack.

Anyway, here's what I wore - and it was fancy but not too fancy. The dress's pockets came in handy!

Retro 50's dress from Trashy Diva, cool necklace from VintDesign, my very old party shoes, red lipstick from Stila

It was a beautiful wedding. Looking at the centerpieces, which had white snap dragons and hydrangea, was like being outside on that perfect, bright Spring day everyone waits all winter for.

We danced the whole time, and I would have deeply regretted not bringing flip flops had there not been soft green grass outside to cool my tootsies in.

Baby Bonanza

noreply@blogger.com (Foxy) — Tue, 17 May 2011 18:35:19 PDT

Following the great wedding deluge (in which for two years straight I attended over 10 weddings), babies started appearing.

First there was one shower, then several.

What to get the little tykes?

It's true this is what registries are for, but after the umpteenth shower, even mini booties and hats get old.

I present to you my go-to new baby gift.

Found it on Etsy. Of course.

Mateo &Tobias make cute personalized alphabet prints. And then ship them fast. Which is good since I always wait until the last minute. (Pictured is the exact one I ordered for a cousin recently.)

Washington DC Bridal Gown Sample Sale!

noreply@blogger.com (Foxy) — Mon, 09 May 2011 15:30:36 PDT

Hey Maryland, DC or Virginia girls - there are bridal gowns on sale this weekend.

Big time.

Where? At Love Couture, the best bridal boutique in the DC area. For real. Sandy (the owner) is super duper nice, a total professional and knows her stuff.

Actually, if I still had my shop during Love Couture's sample sale (5.13-5.15) I'd be bummed 'cause we'd be in for a slow few days. What girl looking for an awesome wedding gown at a sick price wouldn't go have a look?

This isn't a crazy running of the brides sample sale where you'll get an elbow to the face, so dial up Love Couture (301-610-5683) for an appointment

Ninja Name

noreply@blogger.com (Foxy) — Wed, 04 May 2011 10:11:01 PDT

Always wanted to be a Ninja.

I could be a Writer Ninja. Though I'm still revising my book, so maybe not. How about a Cake Ninja? No corner pieces would be safe.

Just call me Zukuariarikimaka. Zuku for short.

source

Royal what what?

noreply@blogger.com (Foxy) — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 13:53:13 PDT

Woke up this morning to watch the royal wedding. I was dying to see what Kate Middleton would wear.

It was awesome. I'm sure you've had an eye and earful of the whole shebang, so I'll spare you my meaningless opinion on her gown. Except to say that it was super wearable. If I still had my store, I'd be stoked since this might (finally) usher in the era of the non-strapless. Maybe even neutralize Anthropologie-style dominance.

Not that I'm anti-strapless or anti-Anthropologie (just got shorts there yesterday - cute ones!), but variety is the spice of life, right?

Anyhow, as Mr. and Mrs. Middleton rode by on the way to Westminster Abbey, all I could think was how crazy life is. I'm pretty sure when Kate Middlton's parents imagined who she might marry, while they probably hoped he would be a prince of a guy, they never dreamed he'd be an actual prince. As in related to Henry VIII. Or to THE Queen Elizabeth. The one with the red hair.

I mean, really?

What to Wear - Afternoon Wedding

noreply@blogger.com (Foxy) — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 06:08:37 PDT

Costume dilemma

Afternoon wedding. Dressy? Not?

Wish there was a clue

We're going to an afternoon wedding and reception. I've taken a poll, and a few ladies attending are wearing evening frocks, some not.

What would you wear for a party and ceremony during the daytime in May when there ambiguous details?

Should I wear this super cute pink retro 40's dress from Trashy Diva?

Trashy Diva '40's dress

Or this one?

Trashy Diva '40's dress

Or be safe and jazz this one up with a turquoise-ribbon-big-red-flower-party-sash?

Trashy Diva cotton voile Doris dress

Cherry Oh Baby

noreply@blogger.com (Foxy) — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 15:06:35 PDT

Government shutdown?

Spring cherry blossoms in bloom

Crisis averted

Picture by me! (Jessica Fox)

Handerpants.

noreply@blogger.com (Foxy) — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 16:14:20 PDT

Don't have much to say about this one. It pretty much speaks for itself, no?

I quite like the many uses listed for Handerpants. Particularly Jazz hands and 'nightblogging'. Everyone knows your hands don't require protection for dayblogging.

Cherry Blossom Smorgasbord

noreply@blogger.com (Foxy) — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 20:01:34 PDT

Oh. Did you say you were coming to DC for the Cherry Blossom Festival?

It's a good time, my friends. Definitely a sight worth seeing.

I am qualified to say this because I am a DC native, born and raised right here in the land of perpetual news coverage.

The food here is not all flash and no substance like so very many other things that come out of my fair city. No way. I promise!

Avoid DC's notorious tourist food traps with a few of this local girl's favorites:

Washington DC's Cherry Blossom tree
Sushitaro Restaurant - Press Review
Kushi Izakaya & Sushi, DC
Baked &Wired Cupcakes, Georgetown
Dukem Ethiopian Restaurant, DC
Vace Pizza
Oyamel Cocina Mexicana: Margaritas
Ray's Hell Burger

Book Club - Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

noreply@blogger.com (Foxy) — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 15:24:23 PDT

I wish I had a book club. It'd be fun to read and then discuss, hopefully over snacks.

Alas, I don't.

Instead, I am going to subject you, my little internet surfers, to the books I have been reading. This will either save you the trouble of reading something that's 'eh' or help your list of must read books get longer.

Hopefully you'll share some of your favorites too!

First up: Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

I experienced a few of those uncomfortable moments where your throat kind of twists as though crying is imminent but never actually happens while reading this one.

Set in Seattle during the '40's right before and during the Japanese internment, the story follows 12 year old Henry Lee and Keiko Okabe. Occasionally, the narrative shifts to 1986, when Henry is a an adult mourning the loss of his wife from Cancer, but it was the past that I found so mesmerizing.

I'd never read fiction that took place during the Japanese internment, and was a little worried it would be depressing....and it sometimes was. But the difficult stuff was balanced by the friendship between Henry and Keiko and the effect that experience has on Henry in the present.

It's a pretty amazing story packed into a relatively short book! AND it was recommended by my mother, who actually IS in a book club.

You Say Lent, I Say What?

noreply@blogger.com (Foxy) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 13:58:40 PDT

image source

At dinner the other night, my mom shocked me by turning down dessert...and sent me into a minor guilt spiral with her reason.

She had given up dessert for Lent.

After I recovered from the disappointment of NOT being able to share a brownie sundae made worse by the aforementioned guilt, I was left wondering if I should give up something, too.

Lunch with a friend revealed another Lenten participant - this time, meat was out until after Easter. She explained why she was doing it, and I again pondered whether I should get in on the Lent action.

While my mom and friend have a lot more conviction on the religious "why's" behind Lent, there is something sort of appealing about giving a thing up to honor the hardships or suffering of those before you. Kind of like a reminder that you've got it good, so quit complaining.

Also, I have residual Greek Orthodox guilt and thus need to take action so it quits nagging.

But I couldn't think of a food I could do without that I hadn't already eaten during Lent. Then I thought...does it have to be a food?

Coudn't it be something else?

The first thing that popped into my mind was excuses. Not the legit ones (and there are), but the ones I use to excuse laziness and allow for anti-social behavior. Like I'm too tired (when really I simply don't feel like studying Japanese and just want to watch "An Idiot Abroad"), or my favorite: I have too much work (which I love to use when I don't feel like meeting friends or working on book revisions and I'd rather read my Kindle).

So, for Lent, I'm gonna give up excuses. Which includes the one that I'm too busy to post at least once a week here. You heard me.

How about you? Any other reluctant Lenters our there?

Coconut Goodness PSA

noreply@blogger.com (Foxy) — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 19:21:18 PST

You know the kind of loose tea you get served along with tiny deserts and sandwiches that have the crusts cut off at fancy hotels? For Christmas one year, my sweetie bought me some with a special strainer and a mug.

Drinking tea quickly became an obsession.

There's something about measuring it out and letting it steep that refreshes and soothes at the same time.

Anyway, now I have super special mug with my initial J on it just like this one:

From which I drink pretty much the most delicious tea ever from Zen Tara Tea, a local tea shop. It's called Tropical Coconut and it will Rock.Your.World.

It tastes like what Hawaiian Tropic smells like. In a good way.

Actually, Zen Tara also has an impressive selection of fruit tarts that sit like precious jewels in frosty cases.

If you live in the DC area, for sure check it out, and if you don't, order the coconut tea online. It's ridiculous good!

Grown Up House - Air Plant Terrarium

noreply@blogger.com (Foxy) — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 18:57:42 PST

I wish I were the kind of person whose home decor included air plant terrariums.

Air Plant terrarium - Sea and Stars (etsy)

But to have it, my whole apartment would have to be redecorated.

Transformed from the sort of modern-but-wait-here’s-some-of-my-mom’s-furniture chic we’ve got going on into something sleeker and much, much more grown up than our collection of art posters (they’re framed!).

Also, the house would have to be clutter free. I'd need to find somewhere other than the end table to store my New Yorkers. This looks like the sort of object that belongs in a room with a white couch. We’d have to lose the dogs.

Maybe if I buy it, it will be as magical as it looks and the minute I take it out of the box, poof! Hardwood floors, gleaming kitchen, well-trained dogs…

What do you guys think?

The Bridesmaids

noreply@blogger.com (Foxy) — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 14:44:30 PST

Oh. Oh. OMG.

I know, I know...I said no more wedding stuff. But I meant unless I feel like it.

If The Bridesmaids captures the crazy of being thrown together with several women you most likely do not know and are not sure you even like, for a year (or more) of an expensive bridesmaid summer camp in which the uniform is inevitably hard to stomach, then you can be sure I'll laugh so hard I'll snarf.

For now I'll just cross my fingers!

Dance, Dance, Dance

noreply@blogger.com (Foxy) — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 18:47:27 PST

I love this picture. It kind of reminds me of the scene in The Golden Child when Eddie Murphy's character goes to see the dragon lady. Not in a freaky way - more an exotic/graceful/I-wonder-what-I-would-look-like-with-my-hair-like-that kind of way.

Anyway, until now I had no idea who Ruth St. Denis was. Definitely a lady before her time, she founded one of the first dance programs at a US University in 1938, had a huge influence on today's modern dance, and is in the National Museum of Dance's Hall of Fame.

Also, (according to Wikipedia) she was the first to bring a Balinese Shadow Puppet play to the US. It was 8 hours.

That's longer than Dances With Wolves, by the way.

What Would Cha Cha Do?

noreply@blogger.com (Foxy) — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 16:32:41 PST

Shopping around on Trashy Diva the other day, I had an epiphany.

I think maybe "Grease" is my style icon. More specifically, Cha Cha.

Remember her? She tried to snake Danny from Sandy and had that black and turquoise dress with the ruffles underneath? She was supposed to be a bad girl, but we just thought she was bad ass - even though she dated that yucky guy who tore up Greased Lightning before the drag race?

Anyway, I saw these shoes:

Just as I thought “I WANT!”, my brain served up an image of Cha Cha. Certainly explains my love for Betsey Johnson frocks I can never wear anywhere but nonetheless long for.

Girlfriend was fierce.

Reading Rainbow

noreply@blogger.com (Foxy) — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 20:49:37 PST

What was your favorite book when you were a kid?

My first reading memory is Dick and Jane…I remember struggling over every word but “I”, hands sweating, the desire to read burned so brightly.

Finally, I got good enough for big girl books, and my mom bought me my first Serendipity story, Leo the Lop. A floppy-eared bunny who learns that being different (even huge, soft ears) makes you special, Leo was my hero, and I wanted more Serendipity books as soon as possible. Better than birthday cake, the pictures were out of my dreams…Pegasus, unicorns, sweet-eyed dragons, shaggy ponies and misfit make-believe characters.

Almost better than the pictures were the stories…although Morgan and Yew made me cry. Just looking at its cover on Amazon, I got a little choked up.