Art Car Recap

Art Car was absolutely amazing this year. It was the 25th anniversary and people brought back and fixed up some classics and really outdid themselves in creating new cars. Below are a few of my crappy shots of some amazing cars, but you can click here or here to link to sites that will be putting up more of their own goodies theses next few days.

It was a really close call regarding weather this year- scattered storms were in the forecast from Wednesday through Sunday. We had the preview party "Art Car Ball" on Thursday night and the rain let loose at about 11:02 pm. Rain and crazy lightning and thunder (really, really strong and near lightning) came down Friday night about 7 minutes after we made it to the car after the Preview at a downtown park. One lightning crack was so big and so close at around 3:00 am that my guy jolted out of his sleep and lept to cover me from whatever his dream state thought was out to get us. Rain and storms blew over by about 7:00 am, cars lined up and were judged at about 8:30 am and the parade rolled at 1:00 under clear blue skies. Wood pallets were placed over walkways that were on low ground, but there was a modest amount of mud and every guest I ran into said they were just so happy and pleased with the quality of cars and the energy of the crowd that they didn't even mind the mud.

I call that a big fat win.

Tired and Happy

Art Car is coming! In honor of the madness (which is hosted by the Orange Show) I've worn orange.


And I'm so wiped out tired that that's the most riveting thing I can pass along today.

See you Sunday! I hope your weekend is as wild and fun as mine is likely to be.

Pants: Theory via Buffalo Exchange...Blouse: thrifted...Cardigan: Target...Shoes: Sperry via DSW

Art Car Weekend

It's going to be an errand day- and I'm excited. Lots of packets and tickets to be delivered, long car rides around town, intermittent phone calls about a task or item forgotten. It's a strangely satisfying puzzle to get it all done efficiently and with the most pleasant route for a ride with the windows down.

And it's all happening because it's NEARLY ART CAR WEEKEND. This amazing Houston tradition is in it's 25th year and is so wonderfully nuts. The excitement and joy of the Art Car community and sense of fun and whimsy are not to be missed if you're ever in Houston during the second weekend in May. To read more about the history of the Parade or to see some of the cars, check out the website! Tonight, my guy and I are going to the Art Car Ball, which is the preview party in celebration of the artists and maaaany of them come in costume to match their cars, other guests just come in costume for fun. It's loud, wild, goofy and totally fun.

What kind of events go on in your town? Any awesome festivals? Strange parades?

Pants: Theory via Buffalo Exchange...Button-down: J Crew Outlet...Cardigan: Target...Shoes: Calvin Klein via Buffalo Exchange...Belt: Target

Friends

Last night I sent my husband to a gay bar without me.

It's not the first time that's happened.

Several of our closest friends here are graduating Masters students, so we're down to the last few days with a lot of them before they move out of town. However, Rob and I have wildly different ideas of quality time with our friends. He likes loud thumpin' music and yelling conversations, I prefer cramming everyone into our tiny apartment and stuffing everyone full of delicious food. I would have gone to the gay bar, in fact I would really love to, but not at 9:45 pm. Bedtime is at 9:45. Instead, I will cheerfully enjoy time with the same group of friends tonight for a delightful boxed wine party at our friend's apartment. Truly, there's nothing better than a bad drink with good friends.

PS- My guy, unprompted, told me I looked like Audrey Hepburn. Win!

Dress: Moda International, thrifted...Shoes: Nine West via Buffalo Exchange...Bracelet: Asos

Pleated Poppy's What I Wore Wednesday and A Little Bit of Lacquer's Work it Wednesday. Check them both out!

EB:EW, Nautical

Of course I'm taking part in this EB:EW- Nautical = Stripes = half my wardrobe. I can't wait to see what everyone does with this prompt.

I very purposefully kept it toned down so as not to get too overzealous and go to work in a bad costume. And preppy is a lovely style, but I didn't want to look like I should be at the helm of a yacht circa 1990, complete with cotton striped tee, high-waisted khaki walking shorts, braided leather belt, sweater draped over the shoulders, and a chin-length bob with feathered bangs.

You can totally see her, can't you?

Instead, the stipes are a subtle underlayer, ocean turquoise in the belt and a nautical charm bracelet. I'mma guess this is a more work-appropriate version of the trend.

Skirt: Banana Republic, via Buffalo Exchange...Tank: J Crew...Cardigan: Target...Belt: Target... Shoes: Naturalizer...Jewelry: Timex, thrifted and Asos

An American Tradition

Baseball games are always fun, I'm just gonna say it. The chatter of families around you, the passing of stats and facts from parent to child (factual or ignorant crap info, it's usually 50/50), the energy of a pair of fans starting a section-wide cheering of "Here we go Astros, here we go! *Clap, clap*," the hope in the eyes of a 10 year old holding up his glove for over 4 innings with the goal of catching a fly ball from the 4th tier way out past 3rd base, the silliness of traditions like inverted "rally caps" when your team is up to bat, the absurdity of singing "Deep in the Heart of Texas" just after "God Bless America" in the 7th inning stretch. And then there's the foodie traditions associated with a ball game- hotdogs, burgers, cotton candy, overpriced beer. 

Needless to say, we had a lovely Sunday with friends watching the Astros get stomped.

The Stars at Night are big and bright... Deep in the Heart of Texas. As sung by a  group of gung-ho Canadians

Cinco Celebration and an Early Birthday

Yesterday was just a niiiice weekend day. We spent the early morning sprawled across the bed, petting and snuggling any critter that wandered by (Miles is always far more inclined to soak up the attention, but Eddie took her fair share... and even approached us while the dog was near to do so. Big. Deal.), I dropped by the local cafe (which turns into "hipster hell" by noon but at 9 am was filled with retirees looking for a perfect brew) and grabbed a cortado since my carafe for my french press is still unreplaced. Got home, showed My Guy all kinds of crap on Pinterest as his eyes glazed over until I hit my Tattoo board. (I have always wanted one, but it's becoming a "thing"... Anyone know an artist in Houston that can do really delicate linework? I have long had a major urge to get a sleeve of sorts in sweet/ vintage florals that have meaning to me.)

I then read aloud Ron Rash's short story "Badeye" which has long been a standing family joke that Rob was not yet privy to. Best line of the story (in reference to the snowcone selling, bootlegging townie whose wife attacked him for unknown grievences in the night: "...But even those men who did not drink, like my father, felt Badeye was a necessary evil in a town where the nearest legal alcohol was 15 miles away. These men also realized that each of them had probably done something during their years of marriage that warranted an icepick in the eye. Badeye's right eye had died for all their sins." I love how wonderfully and melodramatically hilarious that passage is.


An afternoon of browsing for a multi-tasking new birthday blouse with my friend was a nice way to spend the afternoon. We all met up later in the evening and hopped over to the neighborhood bar, which was wonderfully sparse and laughed the night away. One friend in particular, got much chattier than he normally is and provided much entertainment while we were driven to Whataburger for greasy fries. "It's 1:00. That meeeeeans something!" What?!

Anywho, this outfit represents pretty well who I wish I could be all the time- casual, femenine, a liiiittle edge, but approachable. I have this funny dual urge to dress proper/ femenine/ preppy and dress like this. It's a conundrum. But this wonderfully ratty sidebraid and make-you-feel-like-a-fox eyeliner and false lashes at the outer corners tip the scales a little bit... I'll say the opposite next week when I look pristine in a well-fitting pencil skirt.

Thank Goodness

I am so glad for the end of the work week... This evening will be filled with snuggling my husband and critters, phone calls to family since I've received missed calls from both sisters and am on a self-appointed cheering committee for my dad-in-law. And we'll probably eat something wonderful and fresh for dinner, which will make it just a little more awesome.

Catch you later this weekend, I hope your Friday is lovely!

Pants: Zara...Shirt: Gap...Cardigan: Gap...Necklaces: J Crew...Shoes: Nine West via Buffalo Exchange

A Thank You Gift

Okay, do you remember how I talked about the gut-wrenching, time-consuming, pain-in-the-tush computer problem? Well, the tower is back, I was able to open the database that I was worried about and see all of my image files that are linked. Crisis averted. I'll give you two guesses what my plans are for today... (Hint: it will not be sit on my butt and refuse perform many many back ups and sprinkle copies of the database in every email account I have access to.)

Here's the big question today- when I get this friend's home mailing address, what kind of gift card would one be happy about receiving in the mail with a thank you note? He lives south of Houston but I've gathered that he and his fiancee have pals near downtown, which gives me a lot more leeway. What would you recommend? Store? Restaurant? Fancy? Fun?

Pants: Gap Slim Crop...Blouse: thrifted...Shoes: Payless (very old)

Stacks and Piles

It is suuuuunny today, which I'm glad for. It's been a little overcast for the early part of this week with heavy, heavy skies, but getting a bright morning was emotionally needed.

I also got in trouble for not putting things away in our apartment. My Guy sent a text partway through the morning (he was cleaning post-weekend away and I am decidedly a pile-maker.) chastising me for leaving things out after using them. And I promised to put in a better effort. What are your tips for making good on clean up promises? I need to find a way to keep our place tidy and put things away before I start snoozing on the couch at 8:00 each evening.

Pants: Gap Slim Crop...Blouse: Ann Taylor, thrifted...Cardigan: Target...Necklace: J Crew Outlet...Shoes: Payless (very old)