Adored Austin in Ladies Home Journal

When I first started blogging, magazines like Nylon would call me for commentary. Now that I'm firmly in my 30's, I'm giving quotables to publications like Ladies Home Journal. Adding two kids and a couple pairs of mom jeans will do that to a blogger, huh? Chris points out that I'm in good company, though. Tina Fey (also a mom) is on the cover of LHJ this month. Check me and my city out on page 98 in April's issue:
Thanks, Jennifer for interviewing me! Truly, thanks for choosing me to tell your readers about some of my favorite Austin places.

Ladies Home Journal? Check! AARP Magazine? Watch out. I'm just one grandkid and a purse full of peppermints from being in you.

I cried today. Twice.

Two ways to make a pregnant lady cry from happiness:
1. Don't charge her for a tire patch. (Thank you, Lambs Tires!), and
2. Give her an award in the newspaper:
A blush-worthy, humble thank you goes out to The Austin Chronicle! That was an incredibly sweet write-up. Fact: I started reading The Chronicle before I even moved to Austin to get a feel for the city, and for me, it is a giant honor to be included in the annual "Best Of" Issue. Chronicle writers, I officially have crushes on all of you now. As if I didn't love this city enough already! Thanks, y'all!

"Lucky!" (said in a Napoleon Dynamite voice)

I got a Tweet from my pregnant buddy Jen at JenLovesKev about this and stopped by Barnes and Noble to see if it was true:
Bam! My mug in a national magazine, and I didn't even have to rob a bank to make that happen. I'm honored to be in the September issue of Lucky alongside folks like Jessica and Taylor. Too bad they cropped my photo. As you may recall, sweet little Jimi is sitting at my feet in it. Jimi really was banking on this to be his shot at fame... oh, well. Maybe Dog Fancy will give us a call next.

A sucker for seersucker

I bought this seersucker blazer back in April and accidentally forgot all about it! Since it's not super, duper hot here in Austin, I wore it yesterday to my 20 week sonogram appointment and then I donned it again today for a quick jaunt to the bank. Give it up for two day repeats!

dates: 2 and 3 June 2010
occasions: doctors appointment, News8 interview, errands
blazer: thrifted- bulk vintage sale
tank: Old Navy
shorts: F21
shoes: Miss Me- courtesy of a gift card from Lulus
owl necklace: vintage gift from my Grandma

A few things:
1. The history of seersucker fabric is actually very interesting! Did you know that it was originally, traditionally worn by the working class but then rich, Ivy League school kids started wearing it for the irony factor?
2. A couple of my recent posts have been updated with promo codes. The Shabby Apple giveaway post was updated with a 10% off code and the Toms Shoe post was updated with a $5 off code.
3. There's a new blog in town! Everyone, welcome Hello Hauteness to the blogosphere. Ashely Sparger, who is based here in Austin, featured Adored Austin as the first in her "A Blog I Heart" series. Thank you, Hello Hauteness! I am flattered! Check that out here.
4. I was also featured on News8Austin yesterday. Ashely Porter did a "Behind the Computer" bit on four popular Austin blogs, and Adored Austin was one of them. Again, I was flattered! Ashley came over and took a photo of my tiny office. That little blurb is here. I'm the third blog down.
5. Lastly, tomorrow is the weekly Ladies who Lunch meet-up for Austin based lady bloggers. We're meeting at 12:30 p.m. at Star Seeds. I'm excited because Sydney is meeting up with us and selling me THE MOST ELUSIVE SHOES, EVER! Oh my gosh, I'm so giddy! Add the navy Toms Wedges (that perfectly match my seersucker blazer, by the way!) to my summer shoe collection and I can die and go to affordable shoe heaven! Am I right or am I right?

My animal jewelry obsession: an interview

An Affair with Fashion recently interviewed me about my insane animal jewelry obsession. I even divulged where and when it began by telling how my grandma's owl necklace came to be my favorite piece of jewelry, ever:

One highlight from the interview includes this beauty of a quote:

"I am the crazy cat lady of animal jewelery. My collection keeps multiplying!"

If you have a moment, surf on over to An Affair with Fashion and read the rest of my little interview.

Tommy Hilfiger hearts Adored Austin

I just startled my poor little dog by screaming with shock and joy! I just got an email letting me know I had been featured on the official Tommy Hilfiger Facebook as one of their five "Digital Fashionistas to Watch For". They named me their "Chic Fashionista Pick":

(typical pigeon toed stance-- sorry! i'm really trying not to do this all the time!)

Thank you so much, Tommy Hilfiger. It is an honor to be included in this list alongside people like Katy, from Kansas Couture. Katy and Jessica were the first two fashion blogs I ever bookmarked to read daily, and they are among the sites I still visit every single day, sometimes multiple times a day.

Adored Austin was started seven months ago, and it still boggles my mind that people other than my immediate family and old roommates read this. I feel like I'm truly friends with my readers, and I read every single comment and email I get. I still get teary when I get a sweet email or when I'm featured on a site that is not my own (of any size!). It's an honor to be featured on the Tommy FB, but truly, it's just an honor to be doing this site and getting to know the people that come here. Thank you so much, everyone.

Links:
Tommy Hilfiger's Digital Fashionistas to Watch For,
Adored Austin on Facebook.

Like, y'all can, like, TOTALLY take me seriously now.

Freakin' sweet! I got nominated for the Texas Social Media Awards. This is, like, a real deal awards thing complete with a fancy dinner that I'll get to go to if I'm in the top 25. Does this mean I'm a legit internet weblog now? I sure hope so!

I'm excited! If you have a moment, I'd love it if you could scoot on over to my nominee page on The Austin American Statesmen website and leave a sweet little comment about little 'ole Adored Austin or Flash Mob Austin. Apparently "judges will take comments into consideration". I don't really know what that means, so say whatever you'd like. I think the funnier the better!

Blah. I feel pathetic to the max asking for your comments, but some nice people nominated me, so I'd like to do 'em (and you!) proud. If I get asked to go to the dinner, I promise to wear something over the top and maybe even let y'all pick out my dress (possibly from RenttheRunway.com!). I'll even do a video blog about how awkward I feel. Deal?

comment here: Indiana FTW

Adored Austin recently seen on...

What a great start to the New Year. Delightfully Tacky, one of my most favorite, favorite fashion blogs in the entire world named me as one of her top five favorite fashion bloggers of 2009. Thank you so much! Truly, it's so flattering to be featured by a blog that I admire so much. Delightfully Tacky honoree this year, Vogue honoree next! Right? [Go HERE to see who else made the list].

Also, I found out my DIY studded blazer was featured on Glamour.com on Thursday along with a brief but typically goofy interview with me about the blazer:

Pssst! You can read the little blurb HERE.

This is the second time Glamour has featured one of my DIY's. This strikes me as particularly funny since I don't really consider myself to be crafty or very DIY-y at all! I do hope to change that in 2010, though. One of my goals is to learn to sew and to buy less and create more. I already have a little project planned for the thrifted booties I got at Savers this week.

Guess who got misquoted in The Wall Street Journal today...

Back in October, I was interviewed at length by The Wall Street Journal about my experiences as a past buyer, frequent seller, and (constant) shopper at Buffalo Exchange. I talked a lot about affordable fashion, gave tips on selling, and gave advice on purchasing vintage. Frankly, I was very excited for the peice to come out, so when it hadn't a month later, I pretty much forgot about it. Yesterday the writer called me to verify my age and occupation, but this ended up being the only quote they used from me, and gosh... out of context it's completely wrong.

I basically said, "Before I worked at Buffalo Exchange, I was scared to sell there because I associate my clothes with my personality. I thought if they don't buy my clothes, that means they didn't like my clothes, so maybe that means they don't like me!" The writer neglected to say that after working there I gained a better understanding of the buying process, so I now know that's not the case. In fact, I try to use Adored Austin to ease these fears and encourage people to sell to resale shops. The writer didn't even mention Adored Austin. Sad face!

Claire, over at Collective Selection, did a little blip about me back in August concerning all this, and she got it right. So I recommend reading that piece, instead.

Nonetheless, I still think it's cool that I got (mis)quoted by The Wall Street Journal! Maybe one day I can be on NPR. Someone get Terry Gross on the phone, stat!

WSJ: Tips on Selling Your Clothes for Cash

I'm a model, if you know what I mean...

The lookbook photos for Buy Definition are live! I'm lookin' fancy, y'all!

We shot at The Cathedral of Junk in south Austin, and if you call yourself an Austinite and you haven't yet been there, shame on you. I implore you to go before it starts getting chilly! It's open seven days a week during daylight hours, and it's a sight to behold. Best of all? It's free of charge. Bring a camera because you will be amazed.

Three other Austin bloggers also posed for the lookbook. To see it in its entirety, go here. Thanks, Andrew, for Photoshopping my giant pimple away! Thanks, Esti, for using Austin bloggers as your models, and for including me in the bunch! This was so much fun!

Speaking of Buy Definition, today is the very last day to enter the $50 giveaway they're doing here on Adored Austin. I'll be drawing a winner tomorrow. ENTER HERE if you haven't already. If you win perhaps you can use the money to look as fancy as I do in those photos. Of course, you're probably fancy already! In that case, you can use the gift card to augment your existing fanciness.

[photography by Andrew Chan, hair and make-up by Pearl Salon.]

Thank you, Rare Magazine!

The November issue of Austin's Rare Magazine is out, and guess who's on page 45?

How much do I love that I'm wearing my snowman shoes and Jimi made the shot? Huge thanks to Tara, Caitlin, and Annie for this fun little spread. To see the interview text in a readable size, go here and flip to page 45.

Thank you, Weardrobe!

On my birthday, three years ago, I saw my face for the very first time on a network television show:

Now, exactly three years later, a similarly cool moment came this morning when I saw the header on Weardrobe, which is one of my favorite websites:

Yep. I got interviewed on Weardrobe, and if you cruise on over there, you can read life changing insights, such as this one:

My family never picked out my clothes for me. They just let me wear what I want-- so sometimes that meant I wore a grass skirt with rain boots to school or my grandpa's size XXXL suit jacket. I pretty much do the same kind of stuff now except on a more socially acceptable for an adult level.

Read the full interview here... if you dare. Thanks, Weardrobe. I'd choose you over ice cream, any day.

Hey, I know that chick!

Me and my DIY lace jacket were featured on Glamour.com today as part of "Reader Appreciate Day". (Note: I just figured out that's why my headline says "Happy RAD". I thought they were doing some sort of strange Asiannese to me, since I'm half Asian, you know).

I can't believe I didn't say anything ridiculous in the interview. Don't worry. That won't happen again.Thanks, Glamour, for featuring me on your blog today!

Thank you, BeautifulStranger.tv

I am cracking up. I opened my email this morning and saw that I was the Beautiful Stranger of the Day. After reading my interview, I'm sure you'll agree that I'm definitely strange:

Thank you to BeautifulStranger.tv for featuring me. This was a hilarious choice on your part.

Just wrapped: Annie Ray photoshoot

I just finished my photo shoot with Annie Ray, and wow! We had so much fun! I think I even made a new friend! She was an absolute delight to work with.

She had the idea to let Jimi be in most of the photos, and we made sure to keep it goofy.

As to what I wore, I basically pulled everything that anyone had suggested plus another 1/4th of my closet and threw it on the couch for Annie to choose. I ended up wearing four different outfits but only one photograph will run:

1. In the yard, I wore my new Lulu*s dress complete with the purse strap necklace. I added a pair of magenta tights and a gold brocade jacket that I haven't yet photographed for my dailies. To keep it fun, I wore my green polka dotted rain boots.
2. Also in the yard (but sitting on the ground), I wore my yellow Karta dress with a thrifted faux fur shrug. I kept the magenta tights on. I was in my stocking feet, but my gold wedges and my beloved Gucci were on the ground in the shot.
3. For the third look, I sat at my kitchen table, and I wore a black dress (similar to the yellow Karta one above, except with silver jewels). I wore my double decker hair bow, yellow tights, and my snowman house shoes! I used my skinny thrifted silver purse as a prop.
4. Lastly, we shot inside my teeny office. I wore my BB Dakota dress and the gold brocade jacket. I topped it off with my giant flower headband. No tights and no shoes, but my very old, very beat up Loubs (with the red soles toward camera) were on the ground and were maybe in the shot.

Because it was so important to me that people know that I'm not afraid to be funny, I acted over the top snooty, bored, and frustrated in a lot of the photos. I was also cracking up at Jimi, who was being a squirmy little pest. I do hope the photographs come out funny and vibrant, and I hope people can get the idea that I absolutely love doing Adored Austin, but I don't take myself or fashion too terribly seriously. I'm really glad I didn't panic and go shopping before the shoot, because now, no matter which photograph the editor chooses, I'll be wearing clothes that I actually own and have worn before.

Thank you to everyone who gave me advice about what to wear! The photograph will be published in November, and of course I'll be sure to post it when it's out. Afterall, you were basically my long distance Grace Coddington for this shoot.