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I just can’t get over how happy this kid looks! Roooaaaaarrrr!

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I think it’s rather obvious that I have been MIA lately…

But we won’t dwell on the reasons behind my absence, let’s look at my plans for the future instead!

This weekend I am flying down to Savannah, Ga to speak at my alma mater! I am going to be talking about my career and the fashion industry, and how I got to where I am today. I am so honored to be asked to share my undergraduate experience with current and potential students…. I honestly CANNOT wait!

Savannah is my second home, my second family. My favorite people and some of the BEST friends I have ever had live there. It’s my happy place.

It’s going to be a short weekend, with not much personal time. However, I do plan to take pictures and blog about as much as I can.

The above picture is of Tybee Island… currently famous for it’s role in the new Miley Cyrus movie.

Tybee is my happy place… my favorite place in the world. I would live there if I could manage to make a living as a beach bum in southern Georgia.

Sorry if this rant is boring you, but if you can’t tell… I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS WEEKEND!

Whats your happy place?

This rainy weekend provided me with the perfect excuse to stay home and pamper myself.

In the midst of laundry, tidying up, and cleaning out my makeup bag (how often do you clean your makeup brushes?) I made some time to sip on one of my favorite cocktails… a pomegranate martini.

Pictured above is such a concoction I made for myself on Saturday night… orange twist an all. Everyone needs a special cocktail every now and then, and this one is so simple… so here is how to make your own!

Ingredients: Vodka, Tripple Sec, 100% pomegranate juice

Combine 1 part vodka, 1 part tripple sec, and two parts juice in a cocktail shaker with ice.

Shake and serve.

Top with garnish and relax!

I had an amazing birthday party with some very fabulous, fashionable friends… and have no pictures to show for it. We enjoyed quiet a sophisticated dinner full of margaritas and guacamole and then proceeded to sneak (name drop) our way into a posh LES cabaret lounge, where we danced on stage, met up with side show acts, and flirted with bartenders till our livers cried. It was amazing, and I am sad that I can’t hire a personal photographer to follow me around, take outfit photos, and motivate me to post them on a daily basis…… (that sounds a lot like Jake’s job description right now).

Anyways, my birthday was awesome.

Next came fashion week.

My company’s Fall presentation was on Saturday at our new penthouse loft. It was amazing, truly one of those moments where you feel that all of your hard work has paid off and you finally understand why you do it all… because you love it.

Everything from the drinks, to the live music, to the clothes, was amazing…. and once again, I wish I had enlisted an intern to take photos.

Anyways, here’s to a new Lunar year! Year of the Tiger is my birth year, and I have a feeling 2010 will be a good one. So stay posted…

I (usually) keep a moleskin nearby at all times for when inspiration strikes. You never know when you’ll get the urge to sketch, write a stream of consciousness, or jot down an inspirational quote.

I think we all have little rituals like this (tearing out magazine images, articles, doodling, scrap-booking, blogging, etc.) that help us unwind and mentally digest our thoughts.

Well, over the past year (especially the past few months) my life has changed so drastically, and gotten so busy, that I fear I have forgotten to make the time for myself to practice these little rituals.

I have piles of magazines that need to be torn up, and I can’t remember the last time I wrote in a personal journal, or sketched just for practice.

Tonight I got off work 3 hours earlier than “normal”. I relished the opportunity to be home before 9pm, knowing I had a good 3-4 hours before my boyfriend got home.

So, I made a little dinner, lit candles throughout the apartment, made of mug of hot cider, and sat down to write in my journal.

I received this particular moleskin as a birthday gift nearly 2 years ago (makes me feel old), and the first thing I did upon receiving it was flip to a random page in the middle and write down this quote:

“Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regret, so love the people who treat you right, and forget about the ones who don’t. Believe that everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance take it. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said it would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it.”

- Unknown

I found this “random” page tonight because it just so happened to be the next blank page to write in.

I don’t know/can’t find where I originally discovered this quote (if any of you do please share!) But I love it. It really sums up how I try/want to live my life.

I don’t know where I am going with this post (I don’t have a daily outfit), but I thought it was important to remind myself (and all of you) how vital these little moments of “personal” time are.

Not only for mental health, but also to help give some perspective and inspiration; to help us to clear our thoughts and really get down to reason we are here, and why what we do what we do every day.

I may complain about coming home late, not seeing my friends enough, not having enough time to go to the gym, etc. But at the end of the day and I am really happy with my life right now. I am exactly where I need to be (even though I’m not sure where that is).

All I know is I am grateful for the time I do have to sit, blog, and sip a cup of tea at night. And I am grateful for the opportunity to prove myself, challenge myself, and learn every day.

I never thought life post-college would be this way, or that it would be so hard to get my career off the ground. But at least I know I am trying my hardest; while trying to enjoy the journey.

This brings me to another favorite quote of mine… this song lyric always helps to keep those tough days in perspective:

“I don’t know where I am, don’t know where I’ve been; but I know where I want to go”

-Bright Eyes, “First Day of My Life”

Hope you all have an amazing week!

I am really honored. It’s so sweet to hear all the feedback from family, friends, and strangers I have met by writing this blog. I appreciate all the kind words, constructive criticism, and love.

I gladly accept Christen’s nomination, and in the spirit of this award will share 7 (not so) interesting things about me:

1. I was a Fashion Design / Writing major in college. It’s the best way I could combine my artistic and intellectual minds and I am so glad I found such an amazing school to let me study and create the way I wanted to.

2. My “real” name is Lizzie Jeanne. I am named after my Great-Aunt Lizzie and my Grandmother Jeanne.

3. Before I graduated college I had interviewed Pierre Cardin, had my designs featured in the front windows Saks Fifth Avenue, and served as the Fashion Director of a magazine… and I’ve only just begun.

4. I only like drinks that come with straws. (Fruit garnish and cocktail umbrellas are a plus too!)

5. I went to an all-girl’s school for 7 years… and turned out fine (I think).

6. I am obsessed with reading “personal growth” books like The Secret, Basic Black, and What Would Jackie Do? (other titles are too embarrassing to publish here… email me for recommendations)

7. Oprah, Martha Stewart, and Anna Wintour are my heroes and I hope to be like them / work for them one day.

And here are my nominations:

Idee Geniale, Preppy With A Twist, Love Meagan, Peeptoes, Fashion Bananas,  The Art of Jordan , and Pamela

I had so much fun putting this post together! I hope you can tell I am laughing through this entire post… you can never take yourself too seriously you know!

Thank you Christen, and thank you too all of my favorite blogs for posting all the time!

When:
October 31, 2009

What
Grey Skinny Jeans: Heritage 1981
Green Bay Packers Henley: Gift
Green and Gold Bead Necklaces: Gift
Cardigan: JCrew
Green Ribbion (In Hair): Left Over from College Senior Collection
Boots: Target
Cheese Head Hat: Boyfriend’s

Where:

HALLOWEEN!

Why:

Alright, this outfit requires A LOT of explanation. So here goes:

First off, the boyfriend has profusely asked not to be featured on the blog, but we took a lot of great pictures together that I wanted to use.

Hence his face is replaced with that of Frankenstein… (no, there is not a physical resemblance between the two, I’m just trying to respect his wishes).

Second, the outfit was originally intended for SUNDAY November 1st for the big game (Packers vs Vikings). If you don’t know the deal with the rivalry, you can read about it here.

My boyfriend is from Green Bay and his family was so generous as to send me a shirt and necklaces to help show my Wisconsin pride for the game.

Well on Friday, I learned that I had to work on Sunday.

So I was a little bummed, thinking I was going to miss the game and the opportunity to dress up.

Then on Saturday, over dinner (literally an hour before we went out), I looked at Jake and said… we should just wear the Packers gear tonight! And so I invented the best last-minute Halloween costumes ever.

I threw on a cardigan to keep warm, and a bow to decorate my hair. Jake threw on his cheese head, and we were ready to party.

I’m killing so many proverbial birds with this one outfit; I support the Packers, I rock all the awesome fan gear (thank you!), and we had a great “couples” Halloween costume that got hoots and hollers on the street from fans of both teams.

I declare that a win, if I do say so myself.

Long story short, I didn’t have to work too late on Sunday and I was able to meet up with Jake and a friend of his from High School at Kettle of Fish for the second half of the game. The Packers lost, but we still had fun… and met a ton of friendly Wisconsinites!

I love all kinds of documentaries (from Man on Wire, to WordPlay, to Who Killed The Electric Car?), but my absolute favorites are Fashion based documentaries.

So, with the recent release of The September Issue, I thought I would share some of the greatest docs about fashion, style, and some of the most influential people in this industry.

Hope you enjoy!

(In no particular order)

Unzipped (my all-time personal favorite)

Seamless

Yves Saint Laurent: His Life and Times / 5 avenue Marceau 75116 Paris

Scratch The Surface

Just For Kicks

Fly: Words Remembered

Lagerfield Confidential

Marc Jacobs and Louis Vuitton

Valentino: The Last Emperor

The Secret World of Haute Couture

Notebook on Cities & Clothes

Signé Chanel

Christian Dior, The Man Behind The Myth

Karl Lagerfeld is Never Happy Anyway

Eleven Minutes

The Day Before

“Viktor & Rolf – Because We’re Worth it”

Seven Photographs that Changed Fashion

Fashion Victim: The Killing of Gianni Versace

….just to name a few!

Let me know if you have a favorite that didn’t make this list!

I started a new job on Monday; and after waking up early, making a pot of coffee, eating breakfast, and getting ready, I went to say goodbye to my boyfriend and head on my merry way. Well, as I was walking out of the apartment, Jake said the worst thing a girl could here; “Is that a hole?”

Yes.

Yes it was.

A hole, snagged in the back of my favorite little black work-appropriate dress.

In a hurry to find something else to wear I threw on a bunch of basics and ran out the door, fearing I would be late.

I didn’t have time to take a picture, and I would consider yourselves lucky for this… I looked/ felt like a cross between a penguin and a waitress.

For your reference, I wore: Black tulip Kensie skirt, Land’s End White Button Down, Grey Zara Cardigan, Vintage Gold Necklace, Vintage Gold Bracelet, Black Tights, and Vintage Ferragamo flats (brown leather and black suede! so pretty).

So needless to say I haven’t had the time during the day to peruse the internet, read other blogs, tweet, and of course blog myself. I miss it already. I really do. And I intend to find as much free time as possible to keep my hobby going and growing.

This little creative side project is so fulfilling, especially when people comment or when I get featured on the homepage of Weardrobe (like I did today!). So thank you to all of my loyal friends, family members, and “fans” (that means you Wisconsin!).

I love hearing your feedback and feeling like we can connect on a daily basis even when we’re not in the same city.

So thank you, and once again… I ask you for your patience with my sporatic blogging habbits. Thank you.

For your viewing pleasure I have included a photo of me on the job, two years ago, when I worked for a regional magazine in Savannah, Ga. enjoy!

photo by An Le