A Struggle that Inspires

Whenever I watch a movie I love to do some research after (or sometimes during). I enjoy reading the writer/director's biography, film locations, and info about the cast.

Recently, I watched the movie The Last Seduction. The main character is a femme fatale who steals from her husband, runs from NYC, finds a guy outside Buffalo, NY who she attempts to seduce into killing her husband. The movie was very dated in a good way(80s/90s) - old answering machines, women wore short skirts with long jackets, women curled their hair on the bottom. I first heard about this movie because it was mentioned on the pilot episode of Sex and the City. Samantha adores the femme fetal Last Seduction character for having sex like a man. What I found even more interesting than the movie itself was Steve Barancik's honest biography. It's so rare to hear honesty these days.

http://www.best-childrens-books.com/steve-barancik.html

In the above link he writes about his failures and success - dead end jobs, working as an adjunct professor, trying to make writing a career, writing a screenplay, writing children's books and pizza delivering. There's nothing I enjoy more than a story about a person struggling, overcoming circumstances and making something of himself. It's a story all artists, writers, musicians, etc can relate to. Thank you Steve!

Men Should Never Wear Skinny Jeans

Today, I was wondering why men wear skinny jeans. Skinny jeans are a difficult trend to pull off for both men and women. Skinny jeans tend to work best on very slim figures; however, many women can wear them if they pair the jeans with a dress or long shirt. I love wearing skinny jeans in the winter because I can tuck them neatly inside my furry boots - fashionable and warm! So, this brings us back to the question - why on earth would men wear them? Men look best when wearing fitted jeans.

Be Comfortable and Stylish

Winters in NY state can be pretty brutal...to say the least. I've noticed I don't want to put on jewelry in the morning because the metal feels like I'm wearing pieces of ice. Recently, I began making jewelry with upcycled jersey material which is very soft and comfortable. Who decided jewelry had to be cold, hard metal anyway? Don't even tell me it was a man! I enjoy comfort and beauty. I discovered these necklaces are amazing to wear in the winter because it's 100% jersey material. Come to think of it...summer would also be a good time too because the necklaces wouldn't stick to you if you were sweating. The necklaces would absorb the sweat AND you could wash them!

See below for more info:

Be bold. Be the center of attention. Wear this fun and funky necklace to make any outfit exciting! Handmade necklace with soft jersey fabric hangs from jersey neck tie.

* Adjustable length (just add a knot)

* 24 inches

* Made from upcycled t-shirts!

* Hand dyed jersey fringe - blue, green, orange, white

* Fringe hangs 3 - 7.5 inches long

* Made in USA

NOTE: This item has been SOLD. Please contact us if you'd like something like it.

Visit our shoppe http://ricerafferty.etsy.com

Pavement

Pittsburgh, PA has many cute boutiques in the Lawrenceville (Butler Street section) of privately owned businesses. I recently found Sugar and Pavement. Above is this adorable dress from Pavement. The design is a mix of dressy and casual. I especially love the pockets - very utilitarian. The pockets are perfect for those prone to cold hands! http://www.pavementshoes.com/

Back in the Saddle Again

The holidays are over and it's back to the daily grind. I thought everyone would appreciate this fun caffeinated beverage. Happy 2010!

Eye-Opener Smoothie

Makes 1 serving

Ingredients
1 cup fat-free milk
1 chai tea bag
14 grams protein from vanilla isolated whey protein powder
1 teaspoon Splenda
1/8 teaspoon nutmet
4 ice cubes

Directions
Heat the milk in the microwave and pour over the tea bag; steep 5 to 8 minutes. Discard the tea bag. Cool the milk in the refrigerator for 20 minutes or even overnight. Pour the milk into a blender and add the protein powder, Splenda, nutmeg, and ice cubes. Blend 1 minute, until smooth.

Autumnal Devore Scarf

Description***Wrap yourself in luxury.*** Stand out from the crowd in our abstract design devore scarf. Our velvet devore scarves are unique because each one is hand dyed and burned out with our specialty pattern designs. Each scarf is one of a kind, like you.

* 10 inches wide x 72 inches long

* color: autumnal orange, perriwinkle

* raw edges

* Made in USA 18% silk 82% rayon velvet fiber content

Handwash. Instructions will be included with purchase.Devore, from the French word for devour, occurs when sodium bisulphate is applied to the cloth, dried, then heated. The heat process causes the sodium bisulphate to eat away at the fabric, leaving the treated area transparent.

$55 USD

Visit our site for more items like this:http://ricerafferty.etsy.com