Decoden Deja Vu and Damsels Who Dig Mr. Darcy

I Heart Lemons and Fun Stuff Bib Necklace

Top: Macy's

Skirt: Bubblegum, Macy's

Shoes: Ami Clubwear

Bag: Apt. 9, Kohl's

Belt: Wet Seal

 I Heart Limes and Owls Bib Necklace

Sweater: Marshalls

Skirt: Material Girl, Macy's

Shoes: Guess, DSW

Bag: Nordstrom

I Love Lemons and Dinosaurs Bib Necklace

Cardigan: So, Kohl's

Camisole: So, Kohl's

Skirt: H&M

Shoes: Ami Clubwear

Bag: Nahui Ollin

Belt: Tournier Everything's $10

I Heart Limes and Sweet Stuff Bib Necklace

Crochet top: Mossimo, Target

Tank: Worthington, JCPenney

Skirt: Marshalls

Shoes: Iron Fist, Journeys

Bag: B&B, Ocean City

Belt: Wet Seal

"I think being creative is a waste of time and money."  

This startling sentiment was uttered from the always colorful Jennifer Coolidge, this time through the mouthpiece of Elizabeth Charming, a brassy babe on the make in the unlikely milieu of romantic comedy spoof Austenland.  A reenactment experience catering to Jane Austen addicts, Austenland offers romance gigolo-style in the form of amorously attentive "players" purporting to fall head over heels for the patrons.  Coolidge and Kerri Russell, who plays the auspiciously-named heroine Jane, are lamenting over said suitors (one of whom is Bret McKenzie of Flight of the Conchords fame) while embellishing hats when Ms. Charming makes her (at least to this crowd) unfortunate observation.  Not that there isn't a grain (or perhaps I should say seed bead) of truth in what she says.  Being creative can indeed be costly and time-consuming.  For example, I recently decided to restring my "fun stuff" bib necklace series since discovering that the beads I initially used (gasp!) fade after just a few wears.  (I'd made a couple of the necklaces for myself, which was how I came to know this.)  At first I thought it might be better to just quietly chuck them.  After all, restringing meant going to the trouble and expense of researching and purchasing new beads in addition to the actual reworking of the jewelry.  Not to mention that blabbing it all here on the blog probably wouldn't be good for business.  Still, my love for my bauble-bedazzled (or, as the Japanese would say, "decoden" bedecked) bibs triumphed, and silence has never been my strong suit.  So here are the upgraded versions, refortified with new plastic neon Delish beads.  

As I'm sure any fairy tale (and, in the end, even Ms. Charming herself) would attest, a few extra evenings and expenditures never stood a chance against such a fashion rehash of a happy ending.       

Movie Moment: American Reunion

If you graduated high school in or around 1999, then chances are that you have a kind of connection to the American Pie movies.  Having belonged to the class of 2000, I was particularly excited to see the fourth and presumably final installment, American Reunion. 

Thirteen years have passed since Jim (Jason Biggs), Kevin (Thomas Ian Nicholas), Oz (Chris Klein), and Finch (Eddie Kaye Thomas) made their epic pact to each bed a babe on prom night.  Despite adulthood having descended in the form of wives, kids, and careers, the gang's all here (even Oz, Heather (Mena Suvari), and Vicky (Tara Reid), who were conspicuously absent from the conga line in American Wedding).  Not surprisingly, life hasn't turned out the way any of them expected.  Jim and Michelle (Alyson Hannigan) are adjusting to life with a baby, Kevin is an architect-slash-stay-at-home-husband, Finch has been leading a life of exotic but vague adventure, Oz is a sports commentator with a spot on a "Dancing with the Stars" type show (hosted by Neil Patrick Harris!), and Stifler emerges from his mother's (Jennifer Coolidge) basement to crash the party yet again, apparently buckling beneath the demands of his secretarial gig.

The usual gross-out antics and naked ladies rim the edges of what amounts to be an oddly touching story.  Because beyond all the madness is a quiet reminder that everyone gets older and that life goes on.  Nowhere is this message more apparent than when we learn that Jim's mom died three years ago.  Jim takes over the role of caretaker as he gently nudges his dad (Eugene Levy) to dip his toe into the dating pool, an experiment that produces hilarious results.  Speaking of second chances, Oz becomes jealous of Heather's cardiologist boyfriend, Dr. Ron (Jay Harrington, the very same "Dr. Ron" from that guest spot on "Desperate Housewives" many moons ago), right around the same time that his own girlfriend ("30 Rock's" Katrina Bowden) is beginning to grate on his nerves.  But at the core of the crazy is Jim's moral dilemma presented in the form of an all-grown-up and smitten girl he used to (and this is kind of weird) babysit.   

Unlike the Hangover movies, American Reunion serves up a sex comedy with a conscious.  Sure, it makes you cringe in places, but it's the cringing that balances the sap, ultimately making the sap that much sweeter.   

It's a Purse Party!

So said Jennifer Coolidge during a guest spot on "Sex and the City" when she played a freshly dumped woman who's turned to selling handmade purses ("I tore up my bedspread to make that one!"). That having been said, I think she and the rest of the "Sex and the City" gang would appreciate this selection of purses from my page-a-day Handbags gallery-style calendar (Workman Publishing). Based on the book Handbags: The Power of the Purse, by Anna Johnson, this desktop delight is bursting with photographs of ornate, colorful, and sometimes historical satchels, clutches, hobos, cases, shoulder bags, and reticules. (I had to look up that last one; according to dictionary.com it's of French origin and means "small purse or bag, originally of network but later of silk, rayon, etc.")

P.S. The May 4 number is described as a "handmade vintage-inspired fabric bag with abstract paint design" and hails from a lovely-sounding place called The Pink Room. Pretty apropos in light of Ms. Coolidge, huh?

It's a Purse Montage!

Kind of like a purse party. But not.

Although I've posted many a shoe montage, I've yet to extend the same courtesy to my purses. So I'm going the distance with this crop of clutches. As always, Etsy's well represented. The geometric-print clutch in the top picture is from Sweet Wolf and the daisy-accented clutch in the bottom picture is from Krystala Creations.