Ciblek Mania

It's Tuesday night and I'm sitting here wrapped in a blanket listening to the new downstairs neighbors hammer and drill away at the walls at, oh, 10pm.  I just can't win.  Irony struck once again today when I hauled out the vacuum to get my clean on thinking I'd be all productive when, apparently, it blew out the pilot light on the heater.  California:  home of the annoying wall heater.  This is the price you pay if you want to live in a place that has character and doesn't resemble a human filing cabinet.

Note to self:  stock up on sweaters and blankets. Or just stay away from the vacuum?

Why am I not lighting the pilot myself, you ask?  Let's just say I could write a series of short stories on negative experiences with gas (and not the kind that comes from eating beans).  Suffice it to say I once witnessed a man from the gas company come flying out of the floor unit with his pant legs in flames after hearing a very loud bang.  Imagine me beating a stranger with a tea towel.  True story.  Shortly thereafter I discovered 18 months of lethargy was due to a lit-tle carbon monoxide drip that had slowly been killing me.  One of many I've got in my pocket, friends.

How did I get off on this rabbit trail? Can't remember and now have zero segue into an outfit.  Well I do have a coat on, so let's go with that.

On Sunday I hauled out a Mike & Chris (now defunct) leather hoodie I picked up a few years ago on HauteLook.  Prepare for screams from fashion diehards as I confess it's worn primarily with sweats and a t-shirt.  Another true story.  It's a uniform I can't live without:  James Perse sweats pulled up to the knee + one of his t's + the hoodie + flip flops = grocery store, post office, Home Goods, bank errands.  We keep it real over here at the bird.  This means we tell the truth about what we're really wearing daily. And by we I mean me.  *loses it*

For Sunday dinner I managed to amp it up (insert sarcasm) with Current/Elliott denim leggings, one of the Chef's t-shirts and my faithful Joie military boots.  You will note that Sunday's lid resembled a rat's nest.  All I could think about was getting to the Mexican place for margaritas.  My bad.
The whole purpose behind this thing was to say I've basically swiped this t-shirt from the Chef.  After pouring over the closet looking for a shirt I looked down and decided to just wear what I had on which, coincidentally, may or may not have been what I wore to bed the night before?  Can't quite recall, but it would help in carrying on with my whole pajama theme.  HAHAHA!!

ps--if you like the hoodie here's one the former CEO of Mike & Chris has out now. They're really great jackets.

Gotta jet! Chelsea Settles is on! New addiction.

Do you ever have moments where you feel caught between the past, present and future?  Lately I'm stuck in the vortex, pulled in all three directions, emotionally exhausted.

Am I doing all I should be?
Have I done all I could?
Is what I'm doing enough to be able to do all I want later?
Wish I had made a different choice. (new territory for me)
Maybe if I had I would be doing more of what I want now...

It can be a torturous thing this thinking thinking thinking.  It's necessary though.  I mean if you're not contemplating your life one day you'll wake up wondering how you got there.  And what if you don't like it?

Oh hell this is really turning into a melancholy one, isn't it?

Blame it on Monday, overcast skies, lack of sleep.  When in Rome.

I managed to haul it out mid-afternoon yesterday.  Just in time to catch 15 minutes of sunshine amidst what's turned out to be a full week of foggy days.  No complaining here.  Tossed on the usual jeans, boots, jacket and t--and then slung my Low Luv Thunderbird necklace on at the last second.

Chef took a few pictures before we hopped in the car and when he passed the camera over we had the quietest exchange.  Me: 'Something about this is very Goose and Maverick.  Man look at my hair.  I need a comb.'  Him: 'Your hair has never looked better.'  Tell me sweet little lies.  More 80's flashbacks.

Okay velour, but velvet sounds better and who am I to mess with words?

Here we are at Wednesday - a few days to the weekend.  Yippee!!  I have mixed emotions as I type because this weekend will be filled with things to do that don't entail much lying in bed and relaxing (favorite pastime hehe).  All I can think about is how Monday may be met with exhaustion and that causes a bit of stress on the heart.  However yesterday afternoon I managed to alleviate just a little bit of that stress by putting together a very fun outfit for an event I have on Saturday that is casual, yet requiring a bit of sass.  The kind where you don't want to show up over-dressed, yet under-dressed will not be a good scenario either.  Long live Closet Quest 2010. (And living in the moment for Pete's sake!!  Monday will take care of itself.)

Remember last week when I mentioned my closet dive?  (here and here if you missed)  I have to tell you I came out with some great stuff that had almost been forgotten *hangs head*.  Amongst several new old treasures was a velour moto vest I got last year at Juicy Couture (along with a couple of fur pieces that made me scream out loud with glee!!).  Today when it came out of the closet my wardrobe rolodex immediately clicked to a fab ruffled t-shirt and the rest was outfit history.  Saturday here I come!!

Let me begin by saying I hope the picture debacle has been resolved.  I'm scared to even mention it.

This weekend was filled with task-type activities: 

•  Vacuuming - check
•  Laundry - check
•  Sorting the mail - half check
• Eating a chocolate bar - check. 

Basically things you don't necessarily feel  like doing (except the chocolate bar, of course), but are so relieved when they're actually done even if it only lasts for 5 minutes.  In between Friday afternoon, (when we escaped for Mexican food and margaritas in 90 degree weather along with a gaggle of other Californians who were pretending it was summer), and Sunday morning's time change the temperature dropped about 30 degrees.  By the time I rolled out of bed yesterday morning it was downright chilly and the sky was filled with grey. Before mother nature could change her mind, I hauled out one of last year's favorite finds that never got a go-round (read: crying shame).  Seeing capes make a grand re-entrance has made me very happy.  It's a coat that's not really a coat - and oftentimes that's all we need here in SoCal! Any capes in your future?

With the exception of Sunday morning, my weekend was pretty much perfect.  Fall has definitely arrived here at the beach and it was so nice to huddle under the covers, drink hot tea and take walks in oversized sweaters and leggings.  I went to bed on Saturday evening really excited to wake up on Sunday morning and check out the release of Tucker for Target at a local store.

Instead I walked in at 8:10AM and was greeted by a stampede of women who had been possessed by wild animals.  Within moments I witnessed an older woman, shopping for her daughter, have an item ripped from her grasp while she stood there stunned.  At that point I knew it was on.  I managed to find ONE item left in my size and entered the fitting room only to find a group of approximately 5 rabid hyenas who had literally stripped the entire Tucker section of almost every single item.  The Target girls were not prepared for this display of ill-behavior and were clearly mortified as several of us late by 10 minute arrivers requested only to try on an item or two, while the others flat out refused to share anything as they snickered holding a full size run of XS - XL in all but two items.  It was absolutely disgusting to see mid-20's through mid 40's women behave like that.  So much that I turned and walked out.

I ended up visiting a total of 5 Target stores where I eventually managed to find several items in my size and, thanks to my first couple of experiences, was particularly sensitive to leave a full size run on the racks for others!!!  (Are you reading this all of you in Costa Mesa and Huntington Beach?? UGH!).  While the morning left me weary, I am pleased with the items I did find.  My most favorite by far is the Persian Bomber Jacket.  When we walked up the street to grab a bite tonight I seized the cool evening as my first opportunity to wear it.

Have you heard the term convertible used to describe clothing or handbags?  If not, it's basically when you can wear one piece multiple ways - hence, converting it into multiple looks - convertible!  One of my favorite new items is a convertible by Brandy & Melville.  I'm not sure they actually intended for it to be one - but it totally is and I love it.  So here are the 3 separate pieces it represents: 

The Dress



The Tunic





American Apparel has this super cute convertible dress that can be worn seven different ways, Free People has the awesome ruffle skirt that can also be worn as a dress, and check out the Bolu leather backpack that doubles as a messenger bag - it is beautiful!  I'm all over anything that can be worn multiple ways because it makes it much easier on the pocketbook.  And if I really like a particular piece I want to wear it a lot but not be redundant, so a variety of look options is very helpful in that sense too!

How about you - any convertible wearers or lovers out there?  I'd love to get some more ideas!

Dress Outfit Details:  Gap Cami, James Perse Ribbed Dress, Brandy & Melville Dress, Mike & Chris Booties, Alexander Wang Bag, Tom Ford Sunglasses, Melinda Maria Jewelry.
Tunic Outfit Details:  Gap Cami, Brandy & Melville Tunic, Aritzia Leggings, Joie Military Boots, Alexander Wang Bag, Tom Ford Sunglasses, Melinda Maria Jewelry.
Top Outfit Details:  Gap Cami, Brandy & Melville Top, J.Crew Matchstick Denim, Manolo Blahnik Zip Booties, Rebecca Minkoff Studded Rocker, Tom Ford Sunglasses, Dean Davidson Necklace.

I was going to save this one for my birthday in August, but when I was emptying some pictures out of the camera tonight I came across this picture from the weekend.


And it reminded me of how the bf was very kind to me in my sickness on Saturday; encouraging me to get out of the house for just a little while to clear my head of sickville.  And then I got to staring at the Alexander Wang handbag he got me for my birthday this past year.  The Coco Duffel.


Pretty little thing, isn't it?  And it builds a mean arm muscle too.  Those studs are not for the faint at heart.

Whenever I carry the bag, see it in its little dust bag in my closet, or notice someone else carrying one it brings back this memory:


That's one of my cats - Sister Lil; I just call her Lil or the Liller :)  Look at her with her crazy cast and her little pain patch that was supposed to stay on for 2 days, but got chewed off in 20 minutes. 

When I moved to my second place in LA I was pretty much dying of loneliness, hating my job, and wishing for a pet....then I found my cats living under the house.  From my mouth to God's ears!!  They had been abandoned and were feral cats, but I was determined to tame them.  So I fed them every day and soon they would wander into the house and sit for awhile. Eventually I got to pet the big one (Monkey Boy), but Lil just wasn't ready yet.

Cut to present:  These cats have lived with me for 7 years and they are great, loyal companions.  Until last year I let them come and go as they please.  Until my birthday.

The Chef planned a great, low-key day.  He made an awesome breakfast, we went to the spa, we wandered around afterward, we had a great dinner - the whole 9 yards.  But he was disappointed because the "main gift" hadn't shown up yet.  No biggie.  It's on the way, I said.  That night we talked about how we should celebrate my birthday all year because it was such a relaxing day.

The next day we were heading out to separate appointments.  Lil was under my bed (not uncommon).  When I ran back into my bedroom to grab something I saw her leaning up against the wall unable to stand and clearly badly injured.  Hence the photo of her in the cast.  Picture it:  semi-wild cat on death's doorstep, but clearly wanting me to know so I could help her.   

She scooted under the bed.

I panicked.  I called one vet.  And another vet.  And a pet ambulance.  You know people are not that helpful if you're cat's not entirely tame.

Finally a vet from another cat rescue we had done (found a kitten on the center median of the 110 Freeway that had been thrown out of a moving car in rush hour traffic - now THERE'S another story for you)...well, the rescue vet agreed to do a housecall.  They got Lil into a carrier; and x-rays and tests and screens and hours later we found out she had been hit by a car, had a torn ACL at least, and would need major surgery.  I was just glad she was alive.  Poor thing got the surgery a few days later - again, see the above picture - and was decked out in the season's latest neon for 2 weeks.  It was crazy because she had to live in that crate for 6 WEEKS.  Can you say drama??

I think I lost 10 lbs.

The night she got her surgery I was a tore up wreck.  The Chef came into my room as I was getting ready for bed and handed me a box.  I was completely confused and short-fused.  I had forgotten about my birthday.  When I opened the box there she was:  Coco.

I was speechless - which is a rarity.  Seriously.  I brought new meaning to the term "loss for words" because I was utterly stunned.  I mean I have few nice handbags, but nothing of that caliber.  And  I never expected a fat gift like THAT.  And I didn't recall even mentioning the bag more than once except to say something along the lines of I can't believe the likes of Kristen Cavallari is carrying that bag and does nothing while I work my a** off and the closest I'll ever get to it is staring at it through some glass. 

Receiving this gift is a moment I will never forget. So every time I see the bag I am filled with memories of everything - both good and tragic - that was happening around the time it was given to me.  Makes carrying it quite interesting!


Here's a final close up.  Thanks for listening to my story...x

ps - how about those shoes??  Damn that Mike & Chris for losing control of the company!!