THE PISCES GIRL

Here’s something I’m pulling from my poetry vault-written a few years back. I know I’ve mentioned this before but Schwabs and I really love to travel-particularly focusing on small towns in Texas. One of the reasons why we love to travel is because it’s always an adventure and we never know who and what we will encounter. Generally speaking, we have seen some very cool things and met so many beautiful kinds of people-with interesting stories and memorable personalities. It makes us smile to later reminisce and talk about crazy so-and-so who we met in small town, Texas. But every once in a while, we also encounter people who we’d rather forget. For those people, I wrote this. Hope you’ll find it a good read!

Old, white women
oh my God, you are the worst

For a confident, educated latina
you are my curse

You see me walk into your little boutique-y stores
holding hands with my light skinned husband, one of your own

My painted nails, my shiny ring, my style, my swagger-you hate it all
Beneath your breath, how you grumble and groan

You try your best to put me in my place
You’ll ignore me, or glare, or make a stinky face

But I could care less,
you old, wrinkly dinosaur
I am who I am-nothing less and nothing more

You viewpoint is archaic
I thank God you’re a dying breed

We live in a modern world,
where that kind of attitude no longer serves a need

And it never really did
but when you grew up, you weren’t required to keep your ignorance hid

Wake up, grandma!
You’re lookin’ mighty silly to me

Why don’t you let go of your preset notions
It’s easy to do-just a change of thinking
it requires no magic or potions

We’ll start with something simple
like when I smile at you
you could smile back at me

Just this one little gesture
could set us both free

Here is what I wore on my way home from Colorado. Nothing special, but just an example of how easy it can be to mix and match basic solids. Boyfriend jeans, black v-neck tee and an army green cardigan…why not?

Good thing everything was slouchy and comfortable because with the amount of frantic power walking we did in Denver’s super-giant airport, I would have been doubly pissy wearing anything else.  

Top&Sweater-OldNavy/Jeans-Levi's(Ross)/Shoes-LaneBryant/Necklace-Overstock.com/Bracelet-Inherited/Photos by Schwabs

When going simple, it’s still important to show a little personality. That’s cue for my lovely turquoise necklace (one of my favorite pieces and a gift from Schwabs) to do what it does best and steal the show. All other attire just becomes supporting cast. That’s cool by me, it still makes me feel like a production worth watching.

Recognize the tank? I wasn’t kidding when I said it was my favorite. Here it is again, spruced up for a casual fall outfit. I wore this on the flight up to Denver earlier this month.

The whole idea for this travel outfit revolved around comfort and practicality: Rolled jeans, a lightweight cardigan, comfortable walking shoes and hands-free purse scream practical, but the details make it fun to wear.

I LOVE this long, dangly necklace from Dots. It can turn even a simple tee shirt and jeans into something special…or make a colorful tank that I’ve worn a million times feel fresh again. Plus, I like the way the length draws the eye vertically, making me seem longer-which is good for someone who is only five feet.

The purse is BCBG and I found it at Ross. The grey matches anything and the silver details give it a bit of rock-n-roll. My turtle ring is Fossil and a gift from my mom. He actually opens and has a message inside his belly, too cute!

Top-LaneBryant/Jeans-SourceWisdom(Torrid.com)/Sweater-OldNavy/Shoes-SagHarbor(Ross)/Purse-BCGB(Ross)/Necklace-Dots/Earrings-Overstock.com/Bracelet-Inherited/Ring-Fossil(gifted)/Sunglasses-Fossil(Ross)/Photos by Schwabs

I also got new glasses, with a little flash of pink on the side. After ’narrowing’ down my choices to a mere 7 or 8 pairs, I needed help deciding on only one.   Schwabs immediately knew I was going to love these pinkies and he was right, I do.

Wanna know a secret??…Wearing a man’s button down shirt will turn waaaaay more heads than a dress and heels any day.

While I have no scientific data to back that up, it seems to work for  me, so why shouldn’t it for you?

If that’s still not a good enough reason to run to the stores and get one of your own, here’s another one-a man’s shirt is classic, effortless and ridiculously comfortable. It literally feels like wearing pajamas.

Of course, I’m still a girl, so I was sure to pair it with unmistakably feminine touches-like crisp white jeans, flashes of metallic and a colorful statement necklace. A sassy attitude doesn’t hurt either!

Top-Men'sExpress/Jeans-NineWest(Steinmart)/Sandals-SamEdelman(Endless.Com)/Sunglasses-Target/ Necklace-Chico's/Bracelet-Steinmart/Photos by Schwabs

Okay, there is a ridiculous trend going on right now in fashion and it’s starting to PISS me off.

photo from www.collegefashion.net

What the hell is up with the non-prescription nerd frames? Does ANYONE seriously think this looks good? Obviously, people do because it’s popping up all over the place and now relatively attractive people are going out of their way to make themselves look like they’re constantly working calculus problems in their heads. The only things missing are pocket-protectors and awkward social skills.

Now I get that nerd=smart and smart=sexy, but FAKE nerd=idiotic and apparently, idiotic=trendy. It kind-of reminds me of when Nelly popularized the wearing of band-aids on your face when one wasn’t necessary. Hope those dumb-asses didn’t splurge on the ones with anti-biotic medicine, cause that would have been an even bigger waste of money.

No doubt, part of the reason why I find this trend so offensive is because unlike these fashion sheep, I actually have to wear glasses. You know, the REAL ONES, prescribed by an opthamologist who has to blow shit in your eyes and perform tests on you by machines that look like medieval torture devices. Frankly, if I had perfect eyesight and wasn’t so darn scared of lasers being shot in my corneas, I wouldn’t wear them if I didn’t have to. So, I guess I just don’t get it.

Also, talk about carrying around a major sack of hipster bullshit around with you all day. Yeah, I’m pointing at YOU, nerd frames. I know you have 20/20 vision, so don’t pretend like you can’t see me. I, on the otherhand can see your “I’m so nerdy, I’m cool” crap coming from a mile away, bad eyesight and all…and I’m NOT amused.

Sometimes, fashion takes it too far. What’s next? Fake casts? AWESOME!  Giant sunglasses and a blind-person cane? YES! Stick-on zits for those unfortunate souls with clear skin? NICE! A fake prosthetic leg that you can slip on over your perfectly full-functioning one? EDGY!

I love fashion but when it encourages you to be something you’re not, it has failed you. Then again, that’s just one geek’s opinion. Four-Eyes out.

Hello Friends,

I’ve come across this awesome opportunity for local artists living in the San Antonio, TX area and I couldn’t resist passing along to everyone who might be reading. If you are an artist in the area, please check this out. It will be an opportunity for artists to have their work seen by thousands across the city, how cool it that?! This is a contest I’m going to enter, so I’d be honored and greatly appreciate if you could click on the photo and ‘like’ the page on Facebook. Who knows? Maybe I’ll get picked, and the more buzz generated, the better!

Hope this finds you all happy, well and enjoying your passions to the fullest.

Clear Channel Outdoor is giving Local Artist’s the chance to have their artwork and contact information publicly broadcast on our Digital billboards for FREE! We’re going to hold SA’s, 1st ever, Digital Art Show and we need talented San Antonio Artists, like you, to showcase. If you’ve been looking for an opportunity to get your work noticed and your name out, this is it. All you have to do is “Like” our Facebook page and check in for more details on Friday (10/14/2011)

Funny how it seems the older I get, the less crap I want to put up with my in life. I’m not saying that I’m all wise and mighty. Lord knows I still have soooo much growing up and learning to do, but my years have helped me learn at least a few things.

There are many people who joke about wanting to be 21 forever, but not me. I’m happy to be approaching 30. I am more confident in my own skin today than I EVER was at 21 and I consider that a blessing to be recognized and celebrated.

Just the other day, my friends and I (who always transform back into 14 year-olds when we are together) were noticing how lately, the compliments we receive now come with caveats. Compliments like,

“You’re 29?! Wow! You look great for your age.”

Ugh, it’s not fair. Women lose their youth and they become old hags, while men get to lose their youth and become debonair. Well I say, screw that. Next time some idiot tells me I look good for my age, I’m going to correct them.

“NO. I look good, period…End of observation.”

See how great getting older can be? You start to embrace your inner awesomeness, grow a pair and care less and less what others think about that. Mainly, because you start to realize that it’s YOUR life and the only person you can live it for is you! Also, as age starts to creep at your backdoor, you begin to understand that what’s most important is working on becoming the best version of yourself. Afterall, that’s all you can really be.

So, without further ranting, here are a few hard-learned lessons that I hope can inspire all you young whipper-snappers to start living sooner than later…for you and no one else:

1. Not EVERYONE  is going to like you and there’s nothing wrong with that.

2. You are never too old to learn new things.

3. You are never too young to gain wisdom from life’s experiences.

4. Mistakes are necessary. They show that you’re trying and bring  you insight. Don’t beat yourself for them.

5. Only boring people care about being “normal.” Unique is beautiful…and waaaaaaay more fun.

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I know it’s already October, but in many parts of Texas and the rest of the country, we’re still experiencing 90+ degree weather.  So shorts and flip-flops still apply. Here’s a pretty basic outfit I wore during a visit to San Angelo, TX. I love this flowy, tiered tank. I purchased it from Lane Bryant years ago and still find so many different ways to wear it year round. To me, that’s a sign of a good purchase.

I think even my stylish, boot-wearin’ friend would have to agree: not a baaaaaaa-aaaad choice.

Top-LaneBryant/Shorts-Dots/Flip-Flops-Ross/Necklace-GarageSale/Bracelet-Inherited/Ring-James Avery/Photos by Schwabs