Get away Scot free!

Waiting for my UK Student Visa...still. Which freaks me out massively. When I told my cousin, he sent me this video of a comic named Michael Macintyre. He drops some f-bombs, so there's your warning right there. But I laughed so hard, I cried. The man is a total hoot!



So hopefully this visa will come in before school starts (eek! I'm really freaked out) so I went ahead and got myself a new laptop/net book/computer thingy

via Amazon

It's pretty! and really tiny. Go me for not picking out a crap-tastic laptop!

I'm also looking for a coat, because I get cold when the temperature gets below 70 degrees (fahrenheit), which it apparently does across the pond. So, appropriate coats are necessary. Warm coats, with insulation. That make me look like a fluffy penguin. Yay (ugh).

Of course, I fell in love with this coat...impractical as it may be.

via

And this one is pretty

via

But neither will keep me warm like a puffy coat will. sadness.

the Royal Ascot...is not the Kentucky Derby.

I'm talking hat wise.

I can get down with some fascinators, I can even deal with some of the more "creative" things I've seen at British weddings. I'm a bit worried when I can't tell if your hat is legit, or if it's a manic bird attacking your head. There's a problem if I might need to shoot your hat. That's all I'm saying.

(I still secretly love all the ladies who wear the crazy hats...it takes some fashion cojones to do it, so mad props...even if I have an urge to shoot your hat).

There were some new "fashion" rules at Ascot. I don't know what they were. It didn't seem to stop the hats at least.

Patriotic ladies! They look fabulous!

THIS lady...is my favorite. 

I'm not kidding. I love her. She can come over for red velvet cake and mint julies anytime.

sea of hats...and top hats! I love the top hats!

Might be the best dressed ones! 

Images are from Hats off for the Ascot Races

Accompanying article that explains Royal Ascot and more pictures, Hold on to your hats, it's a windy day at Royal Ascot and UK's posh Royal Ascot clamps down on wild fashion

Grad School Wardrobe

I've been in a panic.

Not because I'm moving

Or because I'm going to be paying for school, while living abroad, on a part-time salary.

Or even because I know absolutely NO one where I'm going.

Nope. It's because I have no cold weather clothes and have no idea how to pack up my closet.

Yup. My priorities are in the right place (my closet).

Since I'm from the south, I'm used to muggy weather and lots of Lilly.

Lilly Eryn dress

I don't even own a heavy coat...and snow is not something that happens. Do you know what happens in the UK? It snows! It gets cold! Goodness!

So, in my blind panic, I've been trying to find the essentials to my wardrobe. I had a basic list until I realized that it was more... "American" style wardrobe...and still southern. (10+ dresses? Why, of course!).

Plus, in theory, a graduate school wardrobe should be slightly more professional (in the business sector at least) than an undergraduate. So I suppose my sparkly heels will have to stay behind. Boo.

So I googled British packing list and somehow got on THIS site...which talks about the difference between British and American style, plus guides for all sorts of regions around the world. Things I've learned...I have NO idea what a "festival" look is, but if it's anything like coachella fashions...I'll pass (on that style).

• British vs. American style - observations from a British Girl Abroad. Some great comments as well. 

They have a master archival section about wardrobe + packing for studying abroad, as well as specific sections, thank the lord.

image from College Fashion. net

I'm going to have to learn to layer. And find a coat. Like, a real heavy duty coat. And sensible shoes. 6-inch heels while walking around the city is not happening.

I'm thinking of bringing the basics and buying the coat over there. That makes sense right? And cold weather stuff over there too. Because I'd have to order that anyways.

• What do I wear there? Study Abroad in the United Kingdom and Ireland
• Study Abroad Archives

Pretty Little Liars is back on!

from Pinterest

I love this show...not always the clothes. But I love the hair and makeup. Plus the crazy story-line. I about died when Mona finally talked!

I have to fast-forward when Aria and Ezra do their thing. I know he's no longer her teacher but nothing about that relationship is okay. At all. And I've yet to meet a guy who's college/post-college that was actually interested in a high school girl. Okay, there was one I did know about. And he was arrested. So let that be a lesson ladies, creepers are creepers. And if you're under the age of 18...there's no reason to play with your teacher. Ever.

It's also probably not really that great if you're over 18. I wouldn't know. It wasn't my thing.

this is what I'm talking about. Is that a swimsuit? A bra? 

Luckily, the ladies at Go Fug Yourself. com usually have some fantastic recaps of the fashions. That I usually miss. I missed that top that Hannah was wearing until it showed up on their site. Who lets their high school daughter out of the house like that. It's all sorts of wrong.  Which is sad, because I actually usually like Hannah's wardrobe but not this piece.

I'm dying to know who "A" is going to be. The mastermind person at least. I know who "A" is in the books, but I kinda hope they change it up a tad for the TV show, although it's really good and I spend half my time in suspense.


Screencaps are from GoFugYourself.com, the post about episode 3-1

Anna Wintour is my new hero

I'll admit I'm not a disciple of Vogue. Or anything incredibly fashionable. I'm afraid I'm stuck with Lilly and anything pink. And I have a love for shift dresses.

Anna Wintour would HATE my wardrobe. Sorry Ms. W.

Anna Wintour from the Wall Street Journal

But this week I feel in love with Anna Wintour because she was adorable and sassy (and quite effusive) on the Colbert Report and she supposedly banned Kim Kardashian from the Met Gala.

I don't hate Kim Kardashian. I'm just really, really, really tired of her. She's lasted longer than Paris Hilton, but they're both famous for the same reason. And it's not a reason I think any female would be thrilled about. That being said...I do like Khloe. I can't help myself.

The Colbert Report
Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive

I hope that video works. It's Anna Wintour on The Colbert Report. And I've only linked to YouTube because its easy.

Anyways, Anna Wintour was there to promote the show Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations that's showing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute (Met Gala = Met Museum...if anyone didn't link that). And she has a "date" with Colbert to go to Long John Silver's while wearing zebra striped sweatpants. Total hoot.

Anna Wintour and Stephen Colbert on the Colbert Report via The Hollywood Reporter

I love Colbert. He actually told her that he didn't trust Prada because he heard the Devil wore Prada. Even I, in my tulle loving gynocentrism, knew what he was hinting at. Anna Wintour took it like a pro.



Extra Articles:

1. Wall Street Journal, picture and article on Anna Wintour
2. Anna Wintour bans Kim Kardashian from Met Gala via Fox News
3. Did Anna Wintour really ban Kim Kardashian from the Met Ball via Fashionista
4. Anna Wintour Wikipedia page
5. The Metropolitan Museum of Art's exhibition of Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversation exhibition
6. Anna Wintour, the comic? Vogue editor is surprisingly funny on Colbert via the Daily Mail
7. Colbert Report video from the Colbert Nation
8. Anna Wintour spars with Stephen Colbert on Fashion, Art and Gay Marriage, also with pictures from the Met Gala via The Hollywood Reporter

Budgeting for College...Applications

budgeting means putting my credit cards on lock down. sadness :( 

Before I started applying (or writing my essays) I looked up how much it was going to cost for me to actually submit an application. Mostly so I would know before I turned it in. And to get the shock out of the way first.

I estimated that each school was going to cost me about 100-200 (American) dollars. Which was super excessive with some schools and right on target with others. Whatever remained I split between my future college costs and my "congratulations/splurge account".

For instance...after completing five applications, I bought myself a new dress and a new belt and a coffee.

1. Mossimo Crepe Dress with Cascade Ruffles. In blue, found at Target
2. Skinny belt. I tried to put the teal one I had on their but oh well. In real life, it's teal...
3. Nude pumps

After applications are all done (I've got a couple more) I'm going to start figuring out my future budget for college. Which might be slightly excessive. But I'd rather be incredibly prepared than broke and stuck. No matter where I end up going, I want to go exploring in the surrounding areas, shop, eat out with friends, party (although I can't drink) and live more or less comfy. So, budgeting is the way to go. 

While perusing Google images for student budgets and grad school budgets, budgets by countries, budgets for certain schools (it's going to be awhile on those budgets), I found an info-graphic that I love. I got a little snapshot but the entire info-graphic has a ton of information and is kinda scary. 

Via: Infographic called How Much Americans Save Annually. 

Apparently Americans spend more than 90% of their disposable income. That's scary. 

Perhaps I should add "budgeting the Chinese way" to my google search? 

Image Sources: 

• credit cards on lock-down (WeHeartIt.com)
• clothes found via shopstyle.com. Individual links listed above
• How do American saving habits compare globally from the infographic How Much Americans Save Annually from the webpage Finance Infographics. 

Beautiful Hair Ornaments

I first saw some on this blog, then even more when I went out to meet a friend for lunch. A lot of ladies had some form of sparkle or flower in their hair. To be honest, I haven't worked anything sparkle related in my hair since prom. But I do love things that sparkle!

The goal is to be able to pull it off without looking young (in an immature way). So this is what I found when I looked

The Beauty Department, Lauren Conrad and her friends' site, has a really cute idea

from here

Zappos sells a bejeweled headband

Urban Outfitters has a headband and hair comb for a more understated glitz

The Rodarte hair accessory is a bit intense but still pretty cool. I don't think you can buy them because they were created in-house but this blog has done a DIY on them. 

Simple hair pins with peals attached

Oscar Night!

Well okay, the Oscars were last night. But I actually watched them, even the red carpet preview. I don't normally watch any of the award shows because I honestly forget when they come on. So to be honest, this was an accidental stumbling while changing channels.

The red carpet was alright. I watched the one with Tim Gunn so I missed the Ryan Seacrest and Sacha Baron Cohen dust up.

Jonah Hill brought his mom, which was incredibly sweet

The strangest red carpet moment was the interview with Prince Albert of Monaco (his wife Charlene), Bob Iger (the CEO of Disney) and his wife. The interviewer talked to Albert about his mother, Grace Kelly and then  asked Bob Iger how he knew Prince Albert. I'm guessing she had nothing else to ask them. 

Bridesmaids was nominated but didn't win. I liked Kristin Wigg's hair color (over the blonde in the movie), Melissa McCarthy was pretty funny during her skit with Billy Crystal and her Martin Scorsese drinking game with Rose Byrne made me crack up. 

Tina Fey and Michelle Williams wore a style of dress that baffles me. It's some mix of the 80s (with that skirt) and 50s (again...the skirted section. Tina Fey looked okay in it but I just couldn't love Michelle Williams version. 

          

Here's some other people there

Glenn Close

Jason Segel

 

Jennifer Lopez's dress is hard to capture in pictures. It looked much, much better in motion than it did when she stood still. I think it has everything to do with the fabric and the lines (and the way they hugged her body). And while Gwen actually wore a cape (and wore it well) on the red carpet, I hated her hair style. 

Harry Potter (the last film) didn't win in any of the three categories it was nominated in. I actually found it surprising that none of the movies have ever won considering all the innovations and character makeup or visual effects (trolls, goblins, witches/wizards, house elves, dragons...). Granted it was up against Hugo and that was an impressive movie.


The Artist won awards for best original score, best director, best actor and best picture. They said on TV that it was the first silent film nominated since 1928. And at the end, they even brought the puppy (Uggie) on stage. I'm super behind on movies and I haven't seen The Artist yet but I thought they gave lovely acceptance speeches (I could be biased because I do love a french accent). The (American) news mentioned this morning that Jean Dujardin dropped the F-bomb during his acceptance speech for best actor. My french is a bit rusty but I didn't hear that, I did hear him mention Polanski (eh) and cinnamon rolls (I don't blame him, they're delicious). 




Octavia Spencer won best supporting actress for The Help and Christopher Plummer won best supporting actor for Beginners. While Meryl Streep won best actress for The Iron Lady. 

Plummer

Streep

Spencer

A Separation won for best foreign language film and the director, Asghar Farhadi, gave a very moving speech celebrating Iranian culture through the ages and noting that there has been some harsh and nasty words spoken  that are overshadowing Iranian culture. 

Robert Downy Jr and Gwyneth Paltrow did a cute skit in which Downy was  pretending to  film a live documentary. Paltrow quipped that a live documentary was called "the news". They then gave an award for best documentary to Undefeated. Emma Stone (with a foil performance by Ben Slitter) was adorable and hysterical. 

Best Live action short (The Shore) and best documentary short (Saving Face) look like wonderful movies actually. And the speeches given about Pakistan and Northern Irish violence were heartfelt. 

My absolute favorite part was Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis's skit. They walked in from the audience banging cymbals (and I think smashed them in front of Brad Pitt). It took me a hot second to recognize Esperanza Spalding; she sang a lovely version of "What a wonderful world" with a children's choir from California. 

Well, it's been  a super wordy post (sorry!). I'll link this last thing I found, which was a list of interesting Oscar/Acadamy Award facts. 

Oscar Facts