Baubles for the Birds: Beaks and Geeks

 Toucan Samantha Necklace

Chevron top: XOXO, Macy's

Striped tee: Merona, Target

Skirt: Bubblegum, Macy's

Bag: Betsey Johnson, Macy's

Shoes: Worthington, JCPenney

Belt: Belt is Cool, Amazon

 Fiery Feather Barrettes

 Bright Bird Necklaces

Top: a new day, Target
Skirt: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's
Shoes: a.n.a., JCPenney
Bag: Betsey Johnson, Macy's
Belt: Marshalls
Sunglasses: JCPenney

Back in the day, a geek was someone who bit the heads off of chickens.  Now it's just someone who is an outcast for less horrendous yet still socially unacceptable reasons, such as speaking Klingon or wearing high-water jeans or being on a reality show spawned by Ashton Kutcher.  In other words, a geek is still someone who hovers beyond the periphery of what's considered normal.

But more often than not, normal is for the birds.  And birds of a feather frock together -- which is why Mr. Owl, Mr. Swallow, Ms. Toucan, and the feathers that let them all fly have come to roost at The Tote Trove.  No doubt about it -- avians are amazing, paradoxically delicate and strong despite their feather-light bones.  It's one of the reasons I love them (well, that and their traffic-stopping plumage).  So here are some birds from my nest -- flamingos, to be exact, which are unlike any of the winged ones pictured here.  But then that's Pinky, the perennial plucky gatecrasher.

I got this wall art from Hobby Lobby, the home of endlessly whimsical home decor and craft supplies.  It's where I found Ms. Toucan, too.  But not, sadly, her two clearanced sisters, who were snapped up faster than a cheeseburger at a tofu buffet.  I guess it's like they say: the early bird gets the worm.  Also, the geeks will get their revenge.  No, wait, that's the nerds -- the non-chicken abusers among the uncool.

You're welcome, ASPCA.

Etsy Favorites: Butterfly in the Sky . . .

 Digital Butterfly JPEG, Pixel Twister

 Butterfly Stockings, Banana and Cherries

 Paper Butterfly Fantasy Necklace, Nurit Spiegel

 Monarch Butterflies With Velma, Schin

Rainbow Butterfly Quilted Paper Pendant, Filigree Delights

". . . I can go twice as high.  Take a look, it's in a book, a reading rainbow."

How great was that show?  Not to mention that song.  You know, it wasn't until "Reading Rainbow" host LeVar Burton guest starred on "Community" that I realized he was also that guy with the glasses (who I now know to be Geordi La Forge) on "Star Trek: Next Generation."  

Now that that recollection is out of the way, we can move on to our winged ones.  Let's face it, the butterfly tattoo is a cliché for a reason.  People love butterflies.  And why not?  They flit through the sky on gossamer wings, inspiring us with their beauty and freedom.  This week's Etsy pieces capture this spirit with equal parts charm and edge, challenging us to spread our wings and take flight.  (Metaphorically, that is.  I'm in no way advocating taking to the skies without the aid of an airplane.)  

Movie Moment: Avatar

The bf and I went to see Avatar this Saturday. Let me begin by saying that this isn't my kind of movie. I like romantic comedies, stupid comedies, dramas, and indie flicks. Basically, everything but sci-fi and action (well, and horror and courtroom dramas). So, I was expecting to fall asleep, as I did during Star Trek, Transformers, and Terminator: Salvation. But I didn't. My interest was held, I think, by the gorgeous colors of the mythical planet of Pandora as well as by the storyline. In a nutshell, a paraplegic ex-marine is chosen to learn about the denizens of Pandora by walking among them as a clone. As part of the Avatar program, his objective is to earn their trust so he can convince them to give up their sacred tree so that the humans can harvest some resource for profit. But he ends up falling in love with their leader's daughter, and as a result ends up identifying more with her people than his own. As you may predict, craziness ensues, ending in a series of somewhat gratuitous battle scenes. Interestingly enough, the bf didn't like the movie as much as he expected because he thought there would be more fighting. I, on the other hand, found it kind of enjoyable (again, high praise from me for this genre) for precisely the same reason. And therein lies one of the fundamental differences between men and women. Also true to form, I needed the bf to explain some of the technical and plot-related points afterwards. As someone most comfortable with character-driven tales, both on screen and in print, this was nothing out of the ordinary.