Food for Thought on the Holidays:

It always baffled me that the term holiday would inevitable coincide with the words choas, stress, and money loss. Seems to be a bit paradoxical that we all tend to be so caught up in the gifts, that we forget the reason why we're even buying them. It appears oxymoronic when we think about the underlying messages, which each holiday celebrates. Basically, each holiday during this time of year tends to celebrate life, which is to be shared and appreciated with loved ones. While we'd like to think tha

t buying a spouse or child a flat screen television is the way to their heart, it's more like encouragement for their wildest technological dreams. Don't get me wrong, technology is a beautiful thing, as is gift-giving. However, maybe a new years resolution (for myself and others) can revolve around the philosophy of Ralph Waldo Emerson: "Simplify, simplify, simplify." Rather than celebrating life and loved ones one day each year (or twice including their birthday) and blowing the present exc

hange out of proportion on that one day, spread out the love over a period of time. Give that person one gift each month, treat them to coffee a few times, call them and convey your love often, and find an alternative to intense spending and impulse buying. Avoid the temptations of advertisement for buying things that appear practical and useful, but tend to be valuable for a few months and then obtain an even longer shelf life. Drop debt and embracce DIY by putting together some home-made gifts, bake some cookies for your boyfriend instead of buying chocolates, clean the house for you mom or cook her dinner one night, or go out for dinner and a movie with the family rather than spending hundreds of dollars on video games for the kids.

Just a few suggestions for brightening the holidays without breaking the bank. Doesn't seem realistic? Maybe it's because we've been disillusioned as to what the holidays and celebrations are REALLY about.

The way that a camera works has always fasc

inated me. Ever since I

got a camera of my own, I usually don't resort to using photo bucket on my laptop,

but for some reason I found it extensively interesting to see the words flipped.

It brought me even deeper into question as to how the eye flips images.

Thank goodness I'm not some sort of science major because I just don't have

the capacity to handle the mechanical terms

at this present time.

Welcome to a preview of my t-shirt designs. Unfortunatley for me, I had to recreate the designs to a more simplistic version than the original, but I figured that would make it more identifiable for the viewer as well. So less work for myself, the printer, and the person trying to understand what the heck the creator was trying to convey (if it grabs a person's interest in the first place).

Send some e-mails and let me know what you think: chasingmonroe123@aim.com

closing time. MM

Gimme Gimme More

It's an overcast, yet beautiful day in the neighborhood. I mean, I know they say, "It's always sunny in Philadelphia," but sometimes I don't mind having grey skies. On a more cheerful note, college campuses are preparing to come to a close for the winter (I almost feel like we're all animals getting ready to fly south or hiberante).


Thoughts for this week:

One way to look at winter in a wishful way, is an excuse to layer it up. So, it's cold and sometimes wet and a bit miserable to look outside and not be able to frolic like a fine, summer day. Well, how about stacking all of your favorites to keep that body feeling like the fire?
Missoni displayed its love for layers at Milan's fashion week with long, draped scarves and cowls for the cold and chic creative-dresser. So, before you get upset after glancing at the thermometer, embrace it as a fashionable gift from mother nature, allowing you to play with as many things as you want in your closet- the layers are limitless!

Big is back when it comes to hair an accessories, which can only mean good things for this season's weather. I know I have TONS of hair, which can be (on most occasions, if not all) accompanied by lots, and lots of frizz. I'm also not a huge product junkie, so I usually let it all stay natural and run with my eighties flare with a bit more of a tamed result. If the bed head look seems to be a go-to, which is a definite for the average college student, play it up with fun hair accessories, or give it a little bit of a sexy edge. The weather won't tatter those threads this time. Marc Jacobs shows his followers how to leave their mark at any entrance. Big bows blow the runway, exaggerated accessories, and an alternative to the average apparel for those willing to step a little more than outside of the box into the realm of originality. If you're feeling gloomy, rather than letting it get you down, play with what you believe are your flaws, go back to some old and forgotten favorites, and remember that this season only comes once a year... so embrace it!

Thanks all. Here's to another day of life.
--MM

Dash for Fash with an Eco Splash

Well, it's been a little longer than I would have liked since my last entry, but I was suddenly reminded of my neglect for this page as I stumbled upon a few blogs this evening. Thanks to my co-worker, Ashley, we pleasantly peruzed whowhatwear.com and came across something more pleasing than your traditional fashion blog/online trend revealer. To my excitement, we not only were able to view what was being worn by some of our favorite celebs, but were also about to see the name of the designer and where we could possibly pick it up for ourselves. How nifty is that? I have had constant frustrations with viewing an item in a magazine, wondering where it's from (if it even appears affordable), and am left in a state of curiosity, which is not comical by any means.

So, back to my passion and soul mate: Fashion.

My newest addiction is the designer Iris Van Herpen; Dutch designer alongside of Viktor and Rolf and one of many foreigners being introduced to the states as we continue to welcome the abstract and unfamiliar in the form of apparel.

NEWSFLASH: Are you one of those shoppers who loves DIY, one-of-a-kind designs? Etsy.com helps both advertise and list your own creations, and connect with those who have an affection and niche in the fields of creativity. Also, if you're most recent interest is "Eco-couture" and accessories, collect some fancy finds as you frolic through a land of handmades, vintage, and recycled rinky-dinks.

On the topic of recycling and eco-friendly fashion, the holidays are coming quickly, and most of us are on our tightest money crunch, scrounging for every little bit of cash to get gifts for loved ones. What better way to express, "Happy Holidays" with something that is low cost and and creative? Going back to when you were a little kid and making your parents, siblings, and friends gifts for their birthday and the holidays. It never appeared outlandish to receive a gift from a child, which appeared to be homemade. Today, we are constantly focusing on what is "in" materialistically, steering away from things original and recreated by man's hands, rather than the gears and grinds of a machine. As a designer, I view any creation made from the hands and heart of a human to be more genuine than any purchased good. So, if you were thinking about buying mom, sis, and best friend some jewelry, press the rewind button and think about what you would have done as a little girl/boy. Okay, so noodle-necklaces may not be so appealing on the average working woman. However, think about things that you would normally toss or look past that have been lying around your room, house, dad's tool box, or even in the garden. How could you make this holiday a truly memorable one by delivering an emblematic, earthy, and eminent endowment to the ones you love. And, well, if you're not too crafty, maybe you can commission your little sister or cousin to give you a hand. Either way, consider the alternative. Dash for different, not cash.

Well, in honor of the holiday season (Hannukah in one single day!), enjoy the clean feeling of the cold air, embrace the wonders of winter, and find yourself with a friend, a warm blanket, some yummy comfort food, and lots of love.

AndToAll,aGoodnight. -MM