Hi all! This is the 1 year anniversary of my humble little blog and I couldn’t be more happy with all the wonderful things I have discovered and all the exceptional people I have met through this medium. I have communicated with the nicest artists and designers, fashionable and friendly ladies and gents, hilarious and creative individuals, and I’m meeting more and more people in my own home town of Richmond, VA. I can’t wait to see what the next year has to offer!

What do I have to offer you, the reader? Well other than simply sharing with you the things I love, I have been slightly agonizing over the fact that I am not more personal with you. There’s a fine line and I have been firmly planted far away from that line for many reasons. First off, I would love love love to do “what I wore” posts but I will be honest with you. As much as I love fashion and think I have rather specific (and pretty damn rad) taste, I only wear a tiny fraction of my wardrobe on a regular basis. My lifestyle/work doesn’t allow me to get all gussied up very often, which also means I haven’t done much shopping lately either. I’m pretty much a t-shirt and jeans kind of gal most of the time, so I don’t think you’d be interested in seeing boring pictures of me in dark skinnies and deep-V boyfriend tees every day. Secondly, I enjoy being a curator and sharing with you things that fit into my ideal esthetic, which for me, is a deeply personal thing. Lastly, some things are just none of your darn business. My love life, my friendships, my downtime, my family… I sometimes allow myself to let some tiny details slip out. I certainly do enjoy being a voyeur and reading the blogs of other people who really let it all out but; I don’t think I will ever be one of those bloggers. I’m too private of a person. Although, if you have a question, I most likely will answer it.

I will do this though… in the spirit of not being some anonymous entity on the interwebs. I will interview myself. :)

Lara: First off, how old are you? You don’t look a day over 21! I’m sure you get carded ALL the time!

Lara: Oh, you! Thanks so much! I turned 30 this year.

L: What do you like to do for fun?

L: Lately,  I’ve been trying not to let life get the best of me so, relaxing has been foremost on the list. I used to go out to bars and see bands a lot but lately, I would rather have a nice one-on-one conversation than be surrounded by a sea of people and not be able to hear myself think. Throwing away $50 on a bar tab on a regular basis seems a bit foolish now but I do love to cook and go out to eat.

L: Let’s talk about food!

L: Yes. Let’s. I consider myself a foodie but there are enough food blogs out there so I will keep it out of mine. Years ago, for a few months, I was lucky enough to work in the kitchen of a traditional upscale chophouse as a fill-in for just about everything that needed to be done. I had zero kitchen experience but quickly had to learn just about everything on the menu. It was an amazing experience and I would love to work in a kitchen again. The fast-paced high pressure setting suited me perfectly and instilled in me an appreciation for the process of creating good food. So, much like the way I appreciate the process an artist went through to create a piece, I am fascinated by cooking techniques. I could eat rare steak fromage with walnuts every single day.

L: You post a lot of beautiful and expensive things. Can you even afford any of it?

L: Are you kidding me? Of course not! This blog is more like an inspiration board when it comes to showcasing items. Many of the things I post in “Decor” can be recreated with a bit of creativity and effort. Making your home (or room) a reflection of your heart takes time when you’re on a budget. I have a mile-long list running in my head of things I need to attempt to build, make, find, refinish, paint, re-imagine, etc. Likewise, the pricey fashion trends I gravitate towards can also be recreated but, the older I get, the more importance I place on quality classic pieces with some personality that are worth saving up for, with a few cheap things thrown in for fun. It’s all about being realistic, having priorities, and making the most of what you have. I will always appreciate pretty things though.

L: What did you dress like when you were a teen?

L: When I was a pre-teen I tried to replicate things I saw in magazines. I wore black pretty much every day. Kristen McMenamy was my idol. I was a teen in the 90s so, I fell into the grunge movement (slept in my Docs the first night I got them), then moved on to industrial goth for a while (it really was too much trouble). Most of my friends were into punk. That has always been a major influence on my style and I still lean towards it. Around the age of 22, I began to appreciate the value of a good pair of jeans and some killer heels. When I was younger, I wasted a lot of money buying cheap trendy pieces that fell apart after a few wears but, it was what I could afford. That bad habit is over.

L: Before you moved into your new place, you purged your wardrobe and gave away over 50 pairs of shoes. How are you feeling about that now?

L: It was like a weight had lifted. I barely wear the shoes I kept (over 50 pairs still) but they are all comfortable and well made. It’s a carefully edited collection and I’m prepared for anything. I’m also more careful about all new purchases. It has to stand the test of time.

L: What are your favorite pairs of shoes that you own?

L: Here are some pics of my favorites-

I bought these last year on clearance and only got to wear them twice. So comfy.

I got these two years ago when the peep toe ankle boot craze started and have worn these more than any pair of heels I own. My absolute favorites.

These earned my girlfriends and I a free round of drinks from some anonymous gent who wanted to thank me for wearing red heels.

My favorite summer wedges.

These have a tortoise shell finish. I have a black pair as well. They go with everything.

Have these in black as well. Believe it or not, they are more comfortable than regular heels.

I have been waiting to pair these with a fuschia dress I’ve had laying around.

L: Favorite pieces of clothing?

A few years ago, I bought this skirt on clearance from Urban Outfitters. It is a knee length super fine corduroy wrap skirt that has printed on it a German children’s storybook scene. I have only worn it twice and it really isn’t my ideal style but I can’t help but love it!

An asymmetrical, one shoulder, open side top from Need that has birds across the neckline – I guess you really have to see it on. 

Grey double breasted cropped jacked with belled cuffs that really tidies up the most mundane outfit, also from Need. I like interesting details.

I love blazers but I also love short sleeved jackets. The detail on this cap sleeve is pretty sweet.

This was an F21 purchase that was later ripped off by Banana Republic for 5 times as much.

my favorite strapless dress

L: So, what do you do all day that doesn’t allow for fun outfits?

L: Well, I suppose I could get dressed in something more than a tee and jeans but when you’re the primary caregiver for someone with Multiple Sclerosis (my mom), and you’re helping run a construction company (my father’s)… it seems a bit pointless. I do all this plus run errands and take care of my parents’ home which is stuffed to the gills with antiques and something always needs to be done. I can’t really get things organized and clean in something I’m afraid I’ll ruin. I also have my own home to take care of when I get out of work. I finally finished college this summer but when I was in school I didn’t understand the girls on campus wearing 4″ heels. Walking like you’re in agony at the end of the day is not sexy so, I guess comfort and practicality ends up winning out. If I had an office job, it would be a completely different story.

L: What does your RSS reader look like?

L: I subscribe to almost 200 blogs. Ridiculous right? They include blogs focussing on art, fashion, shoes, food, decor, design, packaging, architecture, tech, DIY, photography, cute fuzzy animals, comics, funny people, satire, personal style, personal journals, science, psychology, politics, various industries, friends, local characters, the local food and art scene… it’s difficult to keep up with it all sometimes and I’m constantly unsubscribing and adding to the list.

L: If you could travel anywhere right now, where to?

L: I’ve been dying to go to Puerto Rico, would love to take a train up to Morimoto in Philly just for a swanky evening and I really want to experience S. Korea and Germany with my boyfriend, since he’s lived in both countries. I would love to experience the dry heat and vast emptiness of the desert al la Tarsem Singh.

L: Hobbies/talents?

L: I love to sew and I do architectural drawings fairly well (here and here) but I haven’t in a while. I used to make and sell dresses at Need over 10 years ago when they were Blues. I did a lot of needlepoint when I was a kid. I have made jewelry and sold it on etsy. I tried my hand at silkscreening last year and I can knit a scarf and refinish furniture. When something needs to get done, I will find a way and I like to teach myself new things but get bored pretty easily once I have it mastered. I still have a room at my parents’ house with my sewing machines and crafty supplies. It would be nice to have it all at my home but we just don’t have the space. I would love to learn metalsmithing and auto mechanics. I’m currently working on some major projects to get something on my bare walls. Pics will be coming soon.

L: Pet peeves?

L: Rachael Ray, bad drivers, the unending generosity my cats bestow upon me in sharing their fur, liars and assumption makers, insomnia, selfishness, clutter, local gossip, dust, people with no class, slow growing hair, the revival of bad 80s fashion, low standards, Starbucks, chipped nails, arguments over politics and religion, knowing I’ve loaned something to someone but forgetting what and to whom.

L: Things that make you smile?

L: Pistachio gelato, lipgloss, Japanese maples, rodents, San-X notepads, no flash photographs, Schleich animal figurines, snail mail, gummy bears, good old fashioned coffee brewed at home, inside jokes, a fresh dye job and pedicure, houseplants, brunch, Kenzo Amour for me and Bulgari Aqua for him, homegrown vegetables, receiving flowers, the amount of German translations I get of my posts, that one time we got the basil lemonade right, Carr’s ginger lemon creme cookies, wrapping paper and ribbons, projects, 2am cereal attacks, clothes on my cats, shots of Van Gogh double espresso vodka when I’m out and feeling froggy, long phone calls with old friends, Korean BBQ, the Large Hadron Collider, Halloween, and I don’t even need to mention hugs and kisses.

L: Education/ Ideal job?

L: When I was a kid my family was pushing for MIT for a while. Math makes more sense to me than anything but I would be sooo bored! Then there was talk about art school and Corcoran was considered. I had a hard time settling on which side of the brain I should make the most of. Then, out of state college ended up not being a possibility. I have a degree in psych and got accepted into nursing school but quit. Long story. Now, I would be happy working at a battered women’s shelter, in a genetic research lab (microscopes, test tubes and all), doing statistical analysis, or getting paid to blog! :)  I’ve had the unfortunate luxury of being able to take my time to figure things out, but also being held back by taking care of my family.

L: From your last answer and your daily routine, an interest in fashion sure seems odd, right?

L: My mother was a snazzy dresser as well as an amazing sewer and diy goddess. My aunt is a seamstress and has worked at some seriously swank boutiques in Richmond as well as being a private seamstress for many ladies who lunch in this city. She would take me along with her to see her clients on the weekends when I was a wee one. I saw a lot of amazing closets. I was surrounded by fashion magazines growing up and would study them, every detail, every seam, styling choices, photographic angles, etc. I was mildly obsessed with socialites and demanded a subscriptions to luxury magazine when I should’ve been playing with She-Ra dolls. (Well, I still made time for She-Ra.) Lynn Wyatt still is my favorite southern socialite. I also began to sew and I loved to draw and would do photorealistic copies of gorgeous draped gowns I saw in magazines. (All of those drawing were lost to an unfortunate incident.) I love to shop. I love shoes. I love the process of presenting yourself to the world accurately. I love patterns and the work involved in constructing a piece of clothing. It’s all art. Who doesn’t enjoy art?

L: How do your friends and family feel about your blog?

L: I don’t think many of my friends even read it. I have mentioned it a few times in passing but it’s not really their thing. My boyfriend is supportive and wants it to be successful but I try not to spend too much time working on it when we’re together. My mom is utterly fascinated with all this newfangled technology and tries to give me ideas when she sees something cool on TV.

L: Well… this has been fun. Anything else you would like to say about yourself?

L: Be true to yourself and those you love. This is going to be a great 2nd year! Thanks for reading this far! Leave comments! I want to know what you think! :)