IPOD

So, Dereck (aka Santa) got me the Nano for Christmas! It's so fun! I know I am one of the last people to get one, but I held out for so long because my Palm has an MP3 player on it, so I could use that on the train. So, on Christmas I loaded all my songs onto it, but now I am having some problems with it.

The first is sorting. When it's on shuffle it goes from India Arie to the Beach Boys to Thievery Corporation. Kind of annoying. I don't want to have to go through everything and group it myself but a lot of my songs have no labels therefore they won't just go into different sections.

Secondly, sometimes songs come on I want to sing or even dance. But then people look at you weird. I don't want to make a complete spectacle of myself.

One of these days I will organize, but for now I will enjoy my crazy mix tape and try not to dance.

My last day of school...(for the semester)

Hooray I am finished! I couldn't be more excited. I am welcoming this break with open arms! After a few nights staying up till 3 or 4am, I turned in my final projects on Wednesday and came home and crashed.
I will post the rest of my projects later, but I had to turn in my mood boards and drawings for 2 collections and present them to my class for Fashion Industry Design. For Illustrator/Photoshop, we had to create and "extension" of an already existing brand, and for Construction III we had to turn in our corsette, with some sort of bottom (mine was combined into a dress) and some sort of cape. I am wearing my cape and my dress is on the form. The picture isn't the best, I hope to get some additional copies later.
It's amazing that something always seems to happen at the last minute no matter how prepared you are, such as putting the button holes on the wrong side. Oh yes, that happened, but what can you do! I can say that I tried really hard, but it wasn't my best work.
Between working full-time, my three demanding classes and trying to spend time with my husband I felt like I was always stretched thin. But, you live and learn.
I love coming in the last day because you get to see everyone's different styles and see how a simple project can produce so many different types of designs. I love it!

Note to self: Don't get married during the semester. Below is a picture with Irina (our teacher) and my friend Wevly. [I am peeking in the background!]

Radio City Christmas Spectacular

Last night Dereck and I went to see the Rockette's at Radio City Music Hall. It was a fun, festive event and I feel like I am finally in the Christmas spirit!
It was filled with Santa, ice skating, synchronization (obviously) and even LIVE animals for the nativity scene at the end. (Camels and sheep and everything)
Dereck liked it but said he didn't think he would "choose" to go back again. It truly is amazing that they can all be in sync like that. Talk about some serious practice!
Merry Christmas!!

2 Steps Forward...1 Step Back

I had the most "interesting" thing happen to me last week. I took my boots in to get them fixed and then when I went to pick them up, decided that they should be shined as well. The worker had me put them on and then climb into the hot seat while they shined my boots. I was sitting there and this elderly gentleman climbs up next to me. He was talking to the guy that was shining his shoes and said - "Since when did we allow women into the men's shoe shine shop?" I glanced at him, but didn't say anything. He then said, "Next thing you know they will have women flying planes."

I looked at him and said "They already do."

What an old-school jerk! He claims he was kidding and proceeds to try and make small talk with me, but I wasn't having any of it. With these types of comments and then the Michael Richards ridiculousness it just proves (yet again) to those who aren't aware that racism is alive and well and has been for quite a while.
I like his quote from this article in the Baltimore Sun:

After all, modern bigotry usually isn't some nitwit screaming the N-word. It is jobs you don't get and loans you don't get and apartments you don't get and health care you don't get and justice you don't get - for reasons you get all too clearly, though no one ever quite speaks them. It is smiles in your face and knives in your back. And it is, yes, a sitcom - like Seinfeld - that presents New York City, of all places, as a black-free zone.

The people that we idolize (celebrities/actors/etc) are just human beings with their own upbringing and predjudices. This guy has probably been in most American families homes as the lovable Kramer. Who would have guessed that he is in fact cabable of this.
We take 2 steps forward and one step back...

Things to be Thankful For

SO many!
I often look so forward to the holidays more for the much needed break instead of a true celebration and reflection period. So, as Dereck and I prepare for our first Thanksgiving as a married couple, I am thankful for where my life is right now. All of the experiences that I have had helped create the person that I am today. There are always things that I am working on or wish that I was better at, but it helps to appreciate the ups and downs that have shaped your existence.
I am thankful for a husband who truly loves me and really tries to make me happy (not always an easy task).
I am thankful for my family. We may be disfunctional in our own way, but I can't think of anything in this world that I would trade them for.
I am thankful for my friends. As my mom said tonight, "you're friends are so cool". And they are. How did I get so lucky?
Seems simple, but I am thankful for a roof over my head. It's cold outside.
I am thankful that I have the knowledge of an afterlife. It would be difficult to go through life thinking that death was the end.
I am thankful that I am able to do what I want to do. I am grateful that I live in America (with all of it's problems and all) and am able to pursue what I want to pursue without feeling guilty. Some people make just enough money to barely eat or have to give any leftover money to their families for survival.
I am grateful for my teeth. Can you imagine if you didn't have any? They aren't perfect, but relatively straight (thank goodness, I have a teeth thing).
I could go on all night, but won't.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!!!

Mood Boards

I am learning in my Fashion Industry Design class then when designing a collection, you have to first figure out what season you are designing for (obviously), then choose a theme for your designs. Once you have a theme, you have to translate that theme into a mood. Hence the term "mood board". The mood board consists of pictures and fabric swatches and that go along with your color story (palette) that all help to define and invent your theme/mood. The second part of the mood board will generally consist of the sketches of the designs or even sometimes pictures of the actual garments.
I am really enjoying this part of the process because there are unlimited options! This will be the first time that I have attempted to create a cohesive full (6 outfit) collection. Normally, I choose fabrics randomly and then later think of what to make or sometimes in class we are told what to make and then we get to find the fabric, but now we can really use our imaginations to design whatever we feel like as long as it fits into the theme that we create.
The only problem is that I don't have much time to do this since I have 2 mood boards due on Monday (in addition to unpacking, spending time with my husband, shopping for fabric to go with my corset, and creating 3 flats in Illustrator, and wanting to go to the Nordstrom anniversary sale) but as Dereck keeps reminding me I am following my dream...

Hope everyone has a good weekend!

My Corset

Here is the corset I have been working on for my Construction III class.
It is made of a luxury velvet and the inside is silk. This picture is kind of hard to see as I took it with my cell phone. I still have to finish the bottom and create a jacket or cape of some sort. We will meet with our teacher today so she can approve our sketches so that we can work on the rest of it. I am happy with how it is coming along, but there was sooo much hand stitching that it took a long time. Here is proof that I have been busy!

Rain boots!

I finally got some rain boots a few weeks ago and today it rained! I never thought I would be excited to wake up and see rain coming down outside. I feel like a true New Yorker with my red boots. I can splash in puddles and it doesn't even matter. I get to work and my feet are dry. I really don't know how I ever lived in the city without them!

The Honeymoon

Aaahhh Jamaica!
It feels like it was forever since we were there! Now we are back to our busy lives with no time to just sit and watch the sunset and feel the island breeze...
We stayed at my dream resort - The Rockhouse. It seriously looks like the pictures on their website. The staff was so friendly and nice, the food was great and it is in a somewhat remote location and each villa is private, so you feel as if you have your own little slice of heaven.

After waking up at 4am to catch our flight, we were pretty tired when we landed in Negril. Garfield (our driver) came and picked us up and took us to the resort. Here's Dereck all ready to relax.
We got in the little mini-bus and we were expecting to hear the reggae pumpin' but instead he had this crazy mix of American oldies blasting! This crazy Chubby Checker remix.
Anyway, it was a beautiful relaxing drive through the crazy Jamaican roads - well somewhat relaxing considering the 4 heart failures I almost had. The driving seemed like utter chaos, but in fact everyone seemed accustomed to the chaos, so it was somewhat controlled chaos if that makes sense. Not only were people driving on the "wrong" side of the road, but cars would just turn and cut right in front of you. I was grateful for Garfield's skills by the time we got there.The hour long drive was worth it because here was a picture of the entrance to our villa.
This is the walkway to the restaurant.

We show up at the hotel and were starving, so we ate at the restaurant at the hotel. It was an open air restaurant that overlooked the water. So peaceful.
Basically the rest of our time we only did a few things - relax, sleep, swim, eat.
Pretty much all you need for survival.

Here is our private swimming area at our villa. This picture doesn't really do it justice because you would walk down the stairs and since the villas were on a cliff, you have this little area underneath that you could swim and feel like you were in the middle of the salty ocean.

This is where we would sit every evening and watch the beautiful sunsets. It was so fun being "the honeymoon couple". Everyone was so nice to us! We really felt like we got the royal treatment everywhere we went. I would recommend the resort to anyone -- it was amazing.

Here are a few more resort pictures. I look at these pictures and it's hard to imagine we were actually there!

I couldn't have asked for a more wonderful, unique honeymoon. It was private, serene and perfect. Thanks D for a marvelous time!

P.S. Dereck took some great pictures with his camera, but we couldn't get them to upload, so we are stuck with only mine...

September 22, 2006

My Wedding!!!

Dereck and I finally tied the knot! Almost a month later and I am just getting around to blogging about it, but in my defense, I have been busy - I am still working full-time, am in the middle of mid-terms, in the process of moving, and just got married – hence the no blogging.

We had been planning for months, but kept everything under wraps from family and friends until the last minute. We wanted it to be a really special, intimate day. It was important to us that we were really able to focus on the vows we were making with one another and remember every aspect of this important day without having to worry about guests and seating charts and flowers and bridesmaids, because at the end of the day, it has to be about him and I.

Here’s a brief recap – It was a beautiful sunny day! I got to sleep in because I was up late packing, got my eyebrows and nails done had to pick up a few things at the drug store and then started to get ready. I was running late, of course, and didn’t get into the shower until 2:30 and the wedding was supposed to start at 3!!! Oopps…Oh well, it is nice knowing that it can’t go on without you!
My sister and Nate, Devon, brother, and Momdrove from DC that morning. Apparently little Devon had to go to the bathroom FIVE times, so the drive took a little longer than expected. They literally pulled up to my apartment and had to rush over to the church to start getting ready. I met them there a few minutes later and ended up having to wait for my mom and sister to finish getting ready…haha. The bride ready before the mother and sister of the bride! Devon was such a good little helper!
Meanwhile, Dereck got to the church around 2:30 and waited patiently for his bride to arrive. I peeked in at him sitting there and he was so cute. He looked a little anxious, but oh so handsome!

We were married by my bishop, Bishop Passey who performed a beautiful ceremony. His wife, Debbie was there and was so sweet and helpful the whole time. We felt so lucky to have them participate. He gave us some great marriage advice. Our friend Loide sang, My Funny Valentine, and of course did an amazing job. I actually didn’t cry (too much)! I got teary during the song, but tried to keep control. After we said our “I do’s” we kissed (of course) and took a few pictures outside the church and then went down the street to Central Park to take some candid shots of the two of us.

It was fun roaming around the city in my dress and Dereck’s suit. We got so many congratulations and funny comments on our journey. We were surprised at all the love from the city – even our cab drivers had something funny to say!

After our “photo shoot” at the park we met our few guests at a restaurant near my apartment. We ate and hung out then said our good byes! We had a few friends there - Saraand Wendy (my old roomie) and it was so great that my family was able to make it on such short notice and Dereck’s family was there in spirit.
The photographer took so many beautiful pictures of Devon. She is such a great subject!
My family went to our apartment to stay and Kenroy and Loide dropped us off at our hotel. We stayed at the W and they were wonderful! We went to check into our room and they said, did you guys just get married or something? We said yes and they upgraded us to the penthouse suite! It was a ridiculous room! We considered calling all of our friends to come over, but decided people might thing that it was weird, but it was totally pimped out! Think flatscreens on every wall (including one in each bathroom), white leather chairs in the dining room, suede sofas, a nice-sized kitchen, tons of cool artsy books on the bookshelves, and the comfiest bed you can imagine. It was sooo hard waking up at 4:30am to catch our flight to Jamaica. [Not to mention the Bliss products that we stuffed our bags with!] (My first time staying at the W was just a few months ago when my friend Kimberly came to visit for work. I thought her room was nice and our penthouse was like 5 times the size!)

Also, we met a famous basketball player who was also staying at the hotel (Forgot his name), but he was really sweet to us and wished us all the best.

We took some pictures of our room that I will post, but unfortunately they didn’t turn out so great, but you have just got to trust us on this one.

Will post pictures from the honeymoon soon!

The announcements went out today, so check your mailboxes. They were done by Leah who did a magnificent job. If you don’t get one in the mail next week, email me in case I don’t have your correct address. We are planning to get sealed in the New York City temple in one year and have a reception for family and friends then, so if you want an excuse to come to New York - mark your calendars!
I am so happy the way everything turned out - it really was a perfect day. I am so lucky to have married such a great man.

P.S. These photos are from our photographer, Jennie Aleshire. She took so many great pictures this is only a small sampling. For more, email me!

Baby Got...

I am not sure if this is appropriate or not and you may have already seen it, but I got it as a forward and was dying laughing. Please check it out.

Book

FASHION WEEK

I LOVE fashion week. I work right near Bryant Park and although I didn't get to go to any shows this year, it just feels like there is more creativity in the air or something. If you go to style.com you can see all of the designs from the shows - it's great! I have been obsessed - hence no time for blogging.
So many designers to report on, but for today's shows I thought Badgley Mischka had some gorgeous pieces.


Zac Posen, who is Parson's golden child, continues to delight! He had some really nice pieces along with some extremely outlandish - here is one that is middle of the road that I liked.

Calvin Klein: So it's got to be hard for Fransico Costa to win designer of the year last year and then have everyone expect your best collection, so I think he didn't do his best work for Calvin Klein but it was ok. I mean the pressure was probably ridiculous!! A very light and airy collection.

Vera Wang and Malandrino also showed today with excellency.

Vena Cava opted for a "presentation" of sorts instead of an actual show which I thought was kind of interesting.

Ok, so that's my fashion report for today.

Corsets and Construction III

On Wednesday evenings I am taking Construction III from Irina Ruvinskya. Here is the description of the course:

Construction 3
Description: In this course, haute Couture sewing and draping techniques are taught and developed from students’ designs.

Our first project is Corsets. We are supposed to have come up with a general design and drape it in muslin and turn in a flat sketch next week.

When I was in Dallas visiting Cathy we watched Pride & Prejudice 2 times! (I know, don't tell) Not the long version, but the short Kiera Knightly version. Ever since then, I have been obsessed with the beautiful dresses and corsets that they wear in the movie.
I am going to try and do a more modern version of a 1800's corset with some type of velvet or silk. [Both will give incredibly different looks, but I can't decide which way to go. ]
I like the front of this one a lot, and the back of the next one. Apparently this was called a "short stay" I really like how it criss crosses in the back, although I am not really into crop tops. Plus, I don't know what type of closure I could use on this one.

For more information on Dressing in 1895, you can check out this website where I got the pictures from and some great ideas. http://www.pemberley.com/janeinfo/ppbrokil.html

Once I get started, I will post the progress...

I AM THE WORST BLOGGER

It's official. I am a bad blogger. Oh well. It doesn't mean I am a bad person does it? Things have been so crazy! I started school last week, went to Dallas the week before to visit Cathy (and got sick) and just trying to prepare for a new semester. I am still working full time and going to school part time, so my days are really full. I am taking 3 classes.

MONDAYS - Fashion Industry Design
TUESDAYS - Photoshop/Illustrator
WEDNESDAYS - Construction III

I will explain what I do in each class, but not today. I just wanted to give a shout out to let everyone know that I am still alive, but just really busy. I have decided to try and blog a little bit as often as I can, so as not to get overwhelmed with having to blog for hours! We'll see how it goes.